The Cosmetic Dental Group is definitely a child-friendly dental practice and our dedicated team love seeing children and getting to know them and their families. We go out of our way to ensure dental examinations are as much fun as possible and children receive their very own goody bags just for coming to see us. We strongly suggest parents book their child’s first appointment as soon as they get their first tooth or by age two.

What to Expect during Your Child’s First Appointment at The Cosmetic Dental Group

We are extremely gentle when treating children and do everything we can to help them feel comfortable and relaxed. Your child’s very first appointment is simply a chance for us to check their teeth and jaws are developing correctly and to chat to you about their dental care at home. Our dental hygienists are wonderful at explaining the best and easiest techniques for cleaning a young child’s mouth in a way that will be as stress-free as possible for you both.

Once they have had their initial evaluation with our dentist, we will need to see them approximately every six months for check-ups and hygiene appointments. These appointments are an opportunity for us to carefully assess their dental health and to monitor any changes. If necessary we can then provide treatment, hopefully well before they have any symptoms of discomfort or pain. By bringing them to see us early on, we can get your child started on a preventative dental care plan.

Why We Love Regular Preventative Dental Care

We would much rather prevent problems from developing and aim to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy and strong well into adulthood. It is vital to look after their milk or primary teeth as tooth decay is painful at any age. These first teeth help children to learn to talk clearly and allow them to eat a nutritious diet, helping overall development. If milk teeth are lost too soon, it can affect the development of their adult teeth.

If your child hasn’t been to see a dentist for a bit, then it is not too late and good hygiene habits start now! We are especially gentle with children who are anxious or nervous about dental care, so please just let us know so we can plan their visit accordingly. We can help them overcome these feelings so they are able to receive regular dental care without experiencing fear.

Early Orthodontic Evaluations

We will keep an eye on the development of their teeth and jaws and if required will recommend an orthodontic evaluation. This can take place as early as age six or seven, as sometimes early treatment can help correct orthodontic problems or will prevent them in the future. An orthodontic evaluation does not necessarily mean they need treatment right away, but it will allow us to plan any future treatments for an optimal time and when we can take maximum advantage of jaw growth and development.

Personalised Oral Hygiene Instructions and Dietary Advice

Oral hygiene instructions and dietary advice can also be discussed during regular examinations. As your child gets older, we can work with them directly to teach them the best way to brush and floss. Your child’s diet is tremendously important to their dental health but is an area that is often overlooked. Unfortunately many foods marketed as being healthy may not be tooth-friendly, with granola bars and fresh fruit juice being two good examples as both can have very high levels of sugar. Even making a few simple tweaks to your child’s diet, or altering when they eat certain foods can make a real difference so please do ask us for advice.