Southside Paediatric Dentistry

Specialist Oral Care for Your Child

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(02) 9531 8488

Comprehensive Paediatric Dentistry

Suite 1, Ground Floor 541 Kingsway
Miranda, NSW 2228

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Southside Paediatric Dentistry > WHO WE TREAT > Preventive Oral Care

Regular dental check-up and cleans help guard against tooth decay and gum disease.

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Preventive Care

Routine Dental Check and Clean

Preventive dental check-ups every six months help catch any oral issues early and ensure your child’s teeth stay in great shape. At Southside Paediatric Dentistry, we aim to make every visit as pleasant and stress-free as possible for your child.

It is advisable for children to visit a dentist as soon as their first teeth erupt or by their first birthday. Early dental visits allow us to build a positive relationship with your child and monitor their oral development to identify early concerns when they're easier to treat.

Southside Paediatric Dentistry offers the full range of dental services needed to protect and maintain your little one's smile. You don't need a referral to see us. You can request a booking online or call our paediatric dental clinic in Miranda and speak with our team.

What to Expect During a Preventive Visit

Preparing your child for a dental check-up is simple. Here's what you can expect from your paediatric dentist and oral health therapist.

Comprehensive Exam

We start by examining your child’s teeth, gums and mouth to check for signs of cavities, gum disease, and assess how the teeth and jaw are developing.

Professional Clean

The dentist or dental hygienist will clean your child’s teeth to remove any plaque or tartar that brushing might have missed. This helps prevent cavities and gum disease.

Dental X-rays

We may take x-rays if needed. The images help us see things that aren’t visible during an exam, such as the development of new teeth, issues between the teeth, or underlying problems.

Patient Education

We take time to discuss your child’s oral hygiene routine and offer tips on brushing, flossing, and healthy eating habits. We’ll answer any questions you have and provide advice tailored to your child’s needs.

Apply Treatment

If necessary, the dentist might apply treatments like fluoride or fissure sealants as a preventative mechanism to protect the teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?

Looking after your little one's teeth should begin as soon as their first tooth erupts. Even that single tiny tooth needs care and attention. In fact, you can start even earlier by gently wiping your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeds to establish good oral hygiene habits.

Infant Oral Care

For those first teeth, use a soft infant toothbrush with just a smear of age-appropriate toothpaste that is safe for your infant to swallow (about the size of a grain of rice). Brush gently in small circular motions, ensuring you clean all surfaces of each tooth. As more teeth appear, maintain this routine twice daily – after breakfast and just before bedtime.

Set the Stage for Success

Remember, teaching good dental habits early prepares your child for a lifetime of healthy smiles. While your baby might initially resist, try to make toothbrushing fun by singing songs or turning it into a game.

As they get older, they can brush their own teeth with your assistance. Allowing them to choose their favourite toothbrush and toothpaste can also enhance the experience.

You'll need to help your little one brush their teeth until they're around 7 or 8 years old, as they won't have the dexterity to clean properly on their own until then.

Is dummy/thumb sucking harmful for my child's teeth?

Most babies naturally find comfort in sucking their thumb or a dummy, and this habit is completely normal in infants and toddlers. For little ones under age four, dummy or thumb sucking rarely causes dental problems. However, if this habit continues beyond ages 4 to 5, it can start to affect the development of their teeth and jaw.

The Long-Term Effects of Thumb Sucking

Long-term dummy or thumb sucking might cause their front teeth to stick out or protrude, creating an open bite (where the front teeth don't meet when biting) or lead to alignment issues with their teeth and jaw. The intensity of the sucking is often more important than the habit itself, as vigorous sucking tends to cause more problems than gentle sucking.

If your child is still sucking their thumb or dummy after age 5, have a chat with us about gentle ways to help them stop. We can suggest positive strategies that won't upset your little one. Remember, most children naturally give up this habit on their own, so there's usually no need to worry too much in the early years.

Fissure Sealants

Dental fissure sealants are a simple and effective way to help protect your child's teeth from cavities.

Fissures are the grooves that naturally occur on the biting surfaces of molars and premolars. If the fissures are deep and narrow, they retain trapped food and bacteria and are hard to clean properly with at toothbrush. A deep fissure is 5 times more likely to develop decay than other tooth surfaces.

A fissure sealant is a thin, protective coating that's painted on these grooves. It fills in the tiny fissures and pits, creating a smooth surface that is much easier to keep clean. The sealant acts like a shield, keeping out food and bacteria that could cause tooth decay.

The process is quick and painless. The dentist or oral health therapist will clean and dry the teeth, then apply the sealant, which hardens quickly under a special light. Once the sealant is applied, it can last several years, though your dentist will review it at regular check-ups to make sure it is still in good condition.

Overall, sealants are a great way to help keep your child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free, especially in those hard-to-reach spots!

Meet Our Team:

Dr Soni Stephen
Specialist Paediatric Dentist & Director

BDS MDS Paed.Dent (Adel) MRACDS (Paed.Dent) FRACDS FADI FICD

Dr Soni Stephen (President Elect-IAPD) is an experienced and passionate Australian trained specialist Paediatric Dentist who completed his specialist training in 1997 from the University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Hospital. He the worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne until 2000 prior to moving to Sydney. Dr Stephen was appointed as Head of Paediatric Dentistry at Sydney Dental Hospital in 2000 a role he held till 2014. He was also a visiting specialist to Sydney Children's and ...

Dental X-Rays

Dental radiographs (x-ray) are a valuable tool we use as part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. These x-rays help us examine the growth and development of your child’s teeth and jaws, as well as identify issues that might be hidden, such as cavities between teeth, developmental concerns, or issues below the gum line.

We use digital x-rays that provide clear, precise images allowing for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning while reducing radiation exposure. This allows us to detect and address potential problems early and avoid complicated treatment in the future.