We know kids' teeth can get up to mischief. At Keys Dental, we're here to help - from first tooth to braces, the Keys team will look after your little one's teeth every step of the way.
From their first tooth to their first birthday. Whichever comes first this is when we start planning their smile for life.
Yes even the little ones need this, starting at around the age of five. It usually takes around 40 minutes. For the first few visit, the Keys kids team usually start with a polishing using a gritty paste. If there is obvious build up, we’ll remove that with hand instruments.
The Keys Team can cater to children who have developmental disabilities such as autism or other sensory issues. Please let our team know of any special needs your child might have so that we can make this a comfortable visit.
Sometimes general anaesthesia is the best way forward for your child’s dental treatment. It might be needed because of the complexity of the treatment or non-compliance. Either way, we’ll be sure they are referred to a Paediatric Dentist to co-ordinate a smooth sailing procedure.
Dental x-rays help us spot any trouble early on so we can treat those little issues before they become BIG issues. We can perform both extra oral x-rays and intra oral x-rays.
No one plans for emergency dental treatment, but sometimes it’s necessary. We want to see your child back to their happy self as quickly as possible. So we reserve several appointments each day especially for these kinds of emergencies. We will review any emergency dental situation for your child and treat them wherever possible. There are times however where we may recommend referral to a Paediatric Dentist. This will be discussed with you at the emergency consult
• When it comes to preventative care we are on your side! We try to keep children’s preventive care as affordable as possible. Often your health fund will cover preventive treatment in full for children. But there are times when this isn’t the case. So we do everything we can to get a beaming smile back into the mix, without breaking the bank!
• If ever in any doubt, we recommend contacting the practice first to request an estimate, prior to your child’s appointment. Different health funds offer different rebates so we can work together to make sure there are no surprises!
We like to see children for a dental examination and hygiene appointment every 6 months. Kids are growing and so are their teeth, so this appointment allows us to identify any possible issues quickly. Children’s teeth are much softer than those of adults, so decay can progress rapidly if left untreated. With frequent check- ups, we can avoid that.
• Yes! Often when kids experience tooth decay it occurs between the teeth. Children who floss every day from 4 years of age are at extremely low risk of tooth decay. So flossing is A-OK in fighting tooth decay.
• Traditional floss can be quite tricky for kids to use so we recommend Flossettes and Reach Access flossers.
Good oral hygiene techniques can never begin too early in life and can set kids up for a lifelong journey of healthy teeth. So this really should be encouraged by all parents. Baby or Primary teeth should be cared for just as you do with adult teeth. They are imperative to your child’s development: assisting with chewing functions, improving their speaking ability and helping guide their adult teeth into the correct positions.
So you want them in tip-top shape!
Most children do suck their thumb or use pacifiers in their early years. It is a natural and comforting reflex for many children. However, it can lead to problems when it is more vigorous or continues to go on for longer than normal. Sometimes, it results in changes to the development of the upper dental arch and orthodontic alignment of the teeth. So do keep this in check, and whenever in doubt, discuss this with your little one’s dentist.
