Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, our team is excellent with kids! At KidsSmile Paediatric Dental, we understand the importance of helping your child feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible during dental visits. We are passionate about paediatric dental care, so your children can grow into healthy adults with great smiles. Every patient who walks through our doors is treated like we would want our family to be treated—with kindness, compassion and respect. 

Our team celebrates each child and their individuality. We love getting to know each other personally and seeing their personalities shine through. You and your child can always count on us to serve you with a smile, friendly conversation and light-hearted fun. 

Gentle Dentistry for Kids and Teens 

At KidsSmile Paediatric Dental, we love working with kids and making them smile. Our team is compassionate and gentle, and we do everything we can to make dental visits stress-free. Your child's comfort and safety are of the utmost importance to us!

We invite you to contact our Broadmeadow or East Maitland dental surgery to learn more about our team and services. 

We look forward to seeing you at KidsSmile! 

Prevention is often the best medicine. With preemptive dental care, we aim to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and other conditions compromising your child’s oral health and wellness. Protecting your child’s teeth is essential because deciduous teeth (or baby teeth) pave the way for permanent, adult teeth. 

Poor dental health can cause kids to prematurely lose their teeth and lead to crowding and other issues. Also, children are often prone to falls and accidents, potentially harming their teeth and gums. The best way to protect your kid’s smile is to prevent problems and lower their risks for dental emergencies as much as possible.

Protecting Your Child’s Smile at Home 

Protecting your teeth in the future means doing the following:

• Brush twice daily and floss once daily. 
• Use fluoride toothpaste as directed by your dentist. 
• Eat nutrient-rich foods. 
• Drink plenty of water. 
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks. 
• Avoid using your teeth as tools to open bottles or packaging. 
• Avoid habits like nail-biting and thumb-sucking. 
• Wear a mouthguard during sporting activities to prevent injury. 
• Wear a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth to avoid dental damage. 

Ready to Book an Exam?

During a routine check-up at KidsSmile Paediatric Dental, we take x-rays and check your child’s teeth, gums, jaws and neck to monitor their oral health. We also look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, infection and other issues. In addition to routine exams, we provide same-day emergency appointments. We invite you to call us today! 

Tooth decay is the most prominent dental disease among children. Sugary foods, poor oral hygiene, lack of professional dental care and snacking can contribute to the development of cavities and other concerns. 

Infants can get baby bottle tooth decay, resulting in their baby teeth falling out prematurely. That's why we advise against letting your child fall asleep while drinking a bottle, especially if you don't clean their teeth afterwards. Prolonged exposure to sugars in milk and other foods leads to cavities, especially if your child's teeth and gums aren't cleaned thoroughly or regularly. 

The Importance of Oral Hygiene 

When we eat or drink, sugars from what we consume mix with the mouth's bacteria, creating a sticky film called plaque. Plaque is acidic, sticks to teeth and erodes enamel by breaking up the minerals in the teeth. Brushing, flossing and professional dental cleans are ways to remove plaque from the teeth and around the gums.

However, if the plaque continues to collect around the gumline, it can infect or inflame the gums. This is how many oral health diseases develop in children. Some dental conditions children face include tooth decay, gum disease, gum recession and premature tooth loss.

Preventing Oral Diseases in Children 

Some ways you can prevent childhood oral diseases include:

• Brush twice daily with the appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste based on your child's age. 
• Floss between teeth every day to remove plaque and massage the gums.  
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and wash away food bacteria and particles in the mouth. 
• Avoid sugary foods and snacks and eat a tooth-healthy diet. 
• See the dentist for routine dental exams and cleans.

Ready to Book Your Child's Dental Exam? 

At KidsSmile Paediatric Dental, our goal is to help kids smile! We invite you to contact us today to book your child's dental check-up. 

What is a Dental Hygienist?

A Dental Hygienist is an oral health professional who specialises in the prevention of oral disease. It requires a three-year university degree in Oral Health.

The primary focus of a Dental Hygienist is to work with the patient and dentist to prevent diseases of the teeth and gums including decay. This is achieved through the assessment of potential problems, carrying out preventive treatments and educating, to help patients and families achieve their oral health goals.

Dental Hygienists are common throughout the world and KidsSmile is proud to bring this gold standard of dental care to our patients.

What does a Dental Hygiene appointment look like?

Unfortunately our mouth is always changing and deteriorating. Our hygiene appointment involves a joint effort between the patient, hygienist and dentist to identify any complications. We provide preventative treatment to assist in avoiding problems and to educate the best way to maintain our health.

This is important at all stages of life and is tailored to each individual based on risk factors such as age, medication, diet, saliva flow, general health and past dental history. Every course of treatment varies in requirements and frequency from person to person.

Is Dental Hygiene important for children?

• We tailor a specific Maintenance program for each child, which focuses on their own needs
• Familiarising children with the dental experience in a non-threatening way
• Oral hygiene instruction through puppets and displays
• Fun disclosing to show where they might be missing with their brush
• Checking jaw and teeth development and orthodontic concerns
• Educating parents and caregivers on the best way to provide dental care at home

​Paediatric dentists care for children’s oral health from infancy through their teenage years. Paediatric dentistry is a registered specialty. A paediatric dentist is a specialist dentist who has completed a further three years of specialist training after completing their Dental Surgery degree. Our paediatric dentists at KidsSmile love working with children and are passionate about helping tiny teeth grow into strong and healthy smiles. We invite you to contact KidsSmile to learn how we can help your little one have lifelong dental health.

KidsSmile Treatment Visits 

Treatments are either performed in our rooms or at Lingard Private Hospital. Treatment is timed and staged to suit each patient through discussions with the patient and family. We will provide price estimates for treatment before the appointment when possible. However, this is not always possible.

Our Friendly Dental Hygienists 

A dental hygienist is an oral health professional who specialises in the prevention of oral disease. It requires a three-year university degree in Oral Health.

The primary focus of a dental hygienist is to work with the patient and dentist to prevent diseases of the teeth and gums, including decay. This is achieved through assessing potential problems, carrying out preventive treatments and educating to help patients and families to achieve their oral health goals.

Dental hygienists are common worldwide, and KidsSmile is proud to bring this gold standard of dental care to our patients.

We invite you to contact us today to book your appointment.

We begin our first appointments with an interview to discuss your child’s concerns and needs. Following that, the dentist will then examine your child in either our consulting room or in a dental chair. When possible, your child’s first visit will include a thorough dental examination, and we may take radiographs (x-rays).

Dental x-rays help us see what's beneath a smile's surface, like bones and tissues. Our dental x-rays are comfortable and safe for children, and we are always pleased to share our findings with parents while in treatment rooms, or whenever requested. 

What to Expect at Our Dental Practice 

It is important for the child’s parent or guardian to be present during the appointment so that we can discuss and explain our findings with you. We also ask that you complete the medical history form and pre-appointment questionnaire prior to your arrival. New and existing patients can find these documents here on our website. We also recommend bringing referral documents and any radiographs to your first visit.

Paediatric Dentist Near Me  

Our paediatric dentists in Maitland and Broadmeadow are here to help your child achieve great dental health. We love working with children and teens, and we look forward to meeting your family! 

We invite you to book with us today!

Baby teeth are essential because they reserve space for permanent adult teeth. Baby teeth typically start erupting when a child is between six to 12 months. Most children have all of their baby teeth by age three. 

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Even before your child has teeth, cleaning their gums and mouth is crucial as it helps prevent bacteria and disease. As soon as your child starts developing teeth, we invite you to bring them in to see our paediatric dentists. 

Children’s teeth require the same consistent care as adult teeth. Without proper oral hygiene and routine dental check-ups, baby teeth can develop cavities, become infected or fall out prematurely. 

Losing a baby tooth prematurely can lead to problems like:

• Speech development issues
• Difficulty chewing 
• Teeth shifting and misalignments

Again, routine check-ups can help prevent these issues before they start or have a chance to progress. 

Healthy Smiles Are Our Passion

Our goal as paediatric dentists is to ensure your child's smile stays healthy for many years to come. We also aim to inspire lifelong excellent oral hygiene and habits and are eager to share helpful tips and techniques with you. 

You are welcome to book an appointment with our paediatric dentists via the online scheduler or by calling our dental clinics in Broadmeadow or East Maitland. 

Stainless steel crowns are cemented to the teeth using dental cements. This is often done using local anaesthetic or as a part of treatment under general anaesthesia. Crowns go over the remaining tooth and restorative material inside the tooth. Deciduous (baby) teeth with stainless steel crowns are lost (fall out) normally with the crown coming out as a part of the tooth.

Stainless steel crowns are cemented to the teeth but may become de-bonded particularly with hard or sticky food (muesli bars, confectionary). Teeth treated with a stainless steel crown still need thorough brushing and flossing to maintain their health. Teeth should have radiographs (x-rays) at least every two years to monitor the underlying tooth.

• Zirconia crowns are cemented to the teeth but may become de-bonded
  particularly with hard or sticky food (muesli bars, confectionary)
• Teeth treated with a Zirconia crown still need thorough brushing and flossing to
  maintain tooth and gum health
• Teeth should have radiographs (x-rays) at least every two years to monitor the underlying tooth

Band and loop space maintainers are constructed using a pre-formed band, selected to fit the tooth and a wire loop, which is customized to the space. Full-arch appliances require laboratory construction and require moulds/models of the mouth. Space maintainers are cemented to the teeth using orthodontic cements that are easily removed when the adult teeth start to erupt.

Space maintainers are cemented to the teeth but may become de-bonded particularly with hard or sticky food (muesli bars, toffees, sticky lollies). Teeth with space maintainers still need thorough brushing and flossing to maintain their health. Teeth should have radiographs (x-rays) at least every two years to monitor the developing adult tooth.

Premature loss of a baby tooth generally results in the loss of space for the adult teeth. This space loss may cause crowding and impaction of the adult teeth, requiring orthodontic correction or extraction of adult teeth.

What is a Dental Hygienist?

A Dental Hygienist is an oral health professional who specialises in the prevention of oral disease. It requires a three-year university degree in Oral Health.

The primary focus of a Dental Hygienist is to work with the patient and dentist to prevent diseases of the teeth and gums including decay. This is achieved through the assessment of potential problems, carrying out preventive treatments and educating, to help patients and families achieve their oral health goals.

Dental Hygienists are common throughout the world and KidsSmile is proud to bring this gold standard of dental care to our patients.

What does a Dental Hygiene appointment look like?

Unfortunately our mouth is always changing and deteriorating. Our hygiene appointment involves a joint effort between the patient, hygienist and dentist to identify any complications. We provide preventative treatment to assist in avoiding problems and to educate the best way to maintain our health.

This is important at all stages of life and is tailored to each individual based on risk factors such as age, medication, diet, saliva flow, general health and past dental history. Every course of treatment varies in requirements and frequency from person to person.

Is Dental Hygiene important for children?

• We tailor a specific Maintenance program for each child, which focuses on their own needs
• Familiarising children with the dental experience in a non-threatening way
• Oral hygiene instruction through puppets and displays
• Fun disclosing to show where they might be missing with their brush
• Checking jaw and teeth development and orthodontic concerns
• Educating parents and caregivers on the best way to provide dental care at home

What is a Dental Hygienist?

A Dental Hygienist is an oral health professional who specialises in the prevention of oral disease. It requires a three-year university degree in Oral Health.

The primary focus of a Dental Hygienist is to work with the patient and dentist to prevent diseases of the teeth and gums including decay. This is achieved through the assessment of potential problems, carrying out preventive treatments and educating, to help patients and families achieve their oral health goals.

Dental Hygienists are common throughout the world and KidsSmile is proud to bring this gold standard of dental care to our patients.

What does a Dental Hygiene appointment look like?

Unfortunately our mouth is always changing and deteriorating. Our hygiene appointment involves a joint effort between the patient, hygienist and dentist to identify any complications. We provide preventative treatment to assist in avoiding problems and to educate the best way to maintain our health.

This is important at all stages of life and is tailored to each individual based on risk factors such as age, medication, diet, saliva flow, general health and past dental history. Every course of treatment varies in requirements and frequency from person to person.

Is Dental Hygiene important for children?

• We tailor a specific Maintenance program for each child, which focuses on their own needs
• Familiarising children with the dental experience in a non-threatening way
• Oral hygiene instruction through puppets and displays
• Fun disclosing to show where they might be missing with their brush
• Checking jaw and teeth development and orthodontic concerns
• Educating parents and caregivers on the best way to provide dental care at home