Routine
Children's dental, gentle from the first visit.
Preventive care, fissure sealants, and gentle treatment in a friendly environment. Bulk-billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible families.
What we offer for kids
- Comprehensive examinations — age-appropriate check-ups; we look for early signs of decay, bite issues, and habits (thumb-sucking, mouth-breathing) that may need addressing.
- Cleans and oral hygiene instruction — gentle, with techniques tuned for kids who are still learning to sit still in the chair.
- Fluoride application — for kids with elevated decay risk.
- Fissure sealants — thin protective coating on the chewing surfaces of permanent molars, which helps reduce the risk of decay in the deep grooves. Typically placed when permanent molars erupt (around 6 and 12).
- Fillings if needed — using tooth-coloured composite for permanent teeth, and durable stainless-steel crowns for baby teeth that need broader repair.
- Simple extractions for baby teeth that need to come out before they fall on their own.
- Pulpotomy — basic root-canal-equivalent treatment for baby teeth where an infection has reached the nerve but the tooth still has years of useful life before it falls naturally.
- Referral to specialists for cases beyond what's appropriate in general practice — paediatric orthodontics, severe anxiety needing sedation, or complex surgical needs.
The CDBS — bulk-billed for eligible families
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Commonwealth-funded program providing up to $1,132 per child over a rolling 2-year period for covered dental work. Eligibility is means-tested and linked to Family Tax Benefit Part A (or similar payments).
For families whose child is eligible, we bulk-bill covered work — meaning no out-of-pocket cost on the day for covered services. We check eligibility at booking and confirm at the first visit.
What's covered: examinations, X-rays, cleans, fluoride, fissure sealants, fillings, root canals on baby teeth, extractions. What's not: orthodontics, cosmetic treatment, GA/IV sedation.
If your child isn't eligible (or has used their $1,132 across the 2-year window), a standard check-up and clean is the same flat rate as our adult exam-and-hygiene — and any further treatment is quoted separately, in writing, before it starts.
When should the first visit be?
We recommend a first visit by age 2 — sometimes called a "well-baby" visit. It's mostly familiarisation: getting comfortable with the chair, a count of the baby teeth that have erupted, and a chat with the parents about home care. From there, 6-monthly visits from when your child is comfortable with the routine.
Early visits matter for three reasons:
- Familiarisation reduces anxiety. Kids who've been in the chair for friendly visits since toddlerhood are much more comfortable when their first restorative visit comes.
- Decay is more common in baby teeth than parents realise. Once a small cavity sets in, treatment is faster and easier the earlier we catch it.
- Habits and development. Thumb-sucking, mouth-breathing, tongue-thrust, early bite changes — we can flag these while there's still time for natural correction or simple intervention.
What to expect at the first visit
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Step 1
Arrival. We'll greet your child by name, show them the chair (kids often enjoy riding it up and down if they're keen), and explain what we'll do in kid-friendly language. Parent stays in the room.
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Step 2
Friendly exam. Counting teeth, checking how they're erupting, a gentle look at the gums. If they're up for it, a quick brush-and-polish. If they're not, we don't push it — we'll do more next visit.
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Step 3
Chat with parent. We talk through what we saw, home-care advice (brushing technique for the age, fluoride toothpaste choice, diet considerations), and when to come back. If anything needs more attention, we plan that visit before you leave.
Common questions
How do I know if my child is eligible for CDBS?
Eligibility is means-tested and tied primarily to Family Tax Benefit Part A (some other Centrelink payments may also qualify a child — Services Australia is the authority). The easiest check is your myGov account — Medicare can confirm CDBS eligibility for any child aged 0–17 in your family. If you're not sure, give us a call and we'll help you confirm at booking.
My child is scared of the dentist. What do you do?
We take it slow. The first visit is often just a count-the-teeth visit — no scaling, no needles, no surprise. We often let kids hold the mirror, ride the chair, ask questions, and introduce the instruments we'll use before treatment. For genuinely anxious kids, the first appointment may be 15 minutes and we build from there. If a child is severely anxious and needs sedation for treatment, we refer to a paediatric dental specialist who can manage that — we don't offer GA or IV sedation in-house.
Do you do braces for kids?
We offer Spark clear aligners for older teenagers whose teeth and jaw are at the right developmental stage — usually 12+. For younger kids who need early orthodontic intervention (interceptive orthodontics, expanders, twin-blocks), we refer to a paediatric orthodontist. We'll make that call at consultation based on what we see.
What if my child needs a filling?
We use tooth-coloured composite on permanent teeth, and durable stainless-steel crowns for baby teeth that need broader repair (these are sometimes called "silver caps" — they're tougher than fillings for kids' chewing forces). Both are bulk-billed under CDBS for eligible kids. We use local anaesthetic where needed and take it at the child's pace.
What about extractions or root canals on baby teeth?
Sometimes a baby tooth needs help to come out, or an infection in a baby tooth reaches the nerve and needs treatment. We do simple extractions and basic baby-tooth root canals (pulpotomy) in-house under local anaesthetic — both covered under CDBS for eligible kids. For complex cases or kids who need sedation, we refer to a paediatric specialist.
Will it hurt?
We aim to keep the first few visits pain-free — counting teeth, brushing, and short familiarisation visits don't need anaesthetic. When treatment is needed (filling, extraction), local anaesthetic is standard; we use a numbing gel first to make the injection itself more comfortable. Most kids tell us afterwards it was easier than they expected.
Can my own check-up happen the same day?
Yes, where the schedule allows — we'll do our best to fit family bookings together so it's one trip. Mention you'd like a joint slot when you book.
Cost & funding
Bulk-billed under CDBS for eligible kids. No out-of-pocket cost on the day for covered work; we'll confirm eligibility at booking and at the visit. For non-CDBS kids, a check-up and clean is the same flat rate as our adult exam-and-hygiene; any further treatment is quoted separately in writing. Full detail on Payment options.
Related services
Time for your child's first visit?
First visits are gentle and short. Book online or call to chat first — we'll explain what to expect and confirm CDBS eligibility if relevant.