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Rob Duhig, Children’s Dentist Brisbane

Choosing the right children’s dentist will make all the difference to your child’s lifelong dental health.  As Brisbane’s gentle dentists, we’re the right choice for little teeth!

Children's Dentist Brisbane - Rob Duhig at Sandgate

 

Finding the right kids’ dentist for your Brisbane kids is vital! Don’t set your kids up for dental fear – choose the gentle dentist in Brisbane!

Healthy teeth are essential for your child’s overall wellbeing and growth.  We’ll help your child develop healthy tooth care habits that will stay with them for a lifetime.  Healthy teeth don’t just look great, they help your little one to speak clearly, chew correctly and have positive social experiences.  We want what’s best for your kids, just like you do.  We’re Brisbane’s gentle children’s dentists and we’re all about helping your child grow into a healthy adult!

Your Child’s first visit to the dentist!

The team at Robert Duhig Dental in Sandgate are here to make children feel comfortable and relaxed during their visit.  The ideal time for a child’s first visit is before their first birthday.  We’ll not only help them feel at home at the dentist but we can also detect any issues early.  We recommend another visit to the dentist around 3 to 3.5 years old.  Like adults, kids should have a dental check-up twice a year.  We can also help avoid costly dental procedures in their teens by keeping an eye on potential problems with their adult teeth long before the tooth fairy starts visiting!

We recommend bringing your child along to your own dental appointments to help:

  • familiarise them with your dentist and hygienist
  • them see what happens in a dental appointment
  • show them there’s nothing to be scared about!

Typically, your child’s first visit to Robert Duhig Dental will involve a quick play in the reception area followed by an adventure in the moving chair with the crazy water machine.  Not even kidding.  Rob gets himself sprayed by excited kids far too often!  Little kids love “a ride in the chair” and Rob and the team do our very best to help kids have a positive experience.  We encourage parents to bring their children early, as you don’t want your child’s first-ever dentist visit to involve dental procedures.  A fun check-up, with a little play and an introduction to the team is the perfect way to start a positive life-long attitude to dental health.  We’ll make your child feel right at home.

What will your child learn on their first dental visit?

We’ll spend time with you and your child discussing toothbrush skills and food choices that prevent tooth decay. We’ll review your child’s medical and dental history and if possible, we’ll count and examine their teeth. Our biggest aim is to make your child’s first visit fun, friendly and positive. We provide toys, DVDs, CDs and colouring books to help entertain and relax them.  We’ll show them that going to the dentist is no big deal – and in fact, it’s kind of fun!  We’re proud to help promote life long great habits and to be known as the gentle children’s dentist Brisbane.

If you’re really lucky, you may even spot our “on staff” tooth fairy!

How much does a Children’s Dentist in Brisbane cost?

For many procedures, kids dentistry is now low or no cost.  To find out if you’re eligible, click here or call us on 07 3269 2443 now.  Check-ups are often also covered on private health insurance.  If you’re concerned about the costs of cosmetic dentistry or your child needs special dental procedures that are not covered, talk to us about breaking up payments for your child’s dental treatments.

Bulk Billing Dentist for Kids

While there is no such thing as a bulk billing dentist for adults, eligible families can get kids’ dental work bulk billed under the government rebate scheme.  If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, learn more here.

Tips for making the first  dental visit a good one

  • Discuss the visit with your child beforehand. Tell them about the special chair. Avoid telling them it ‘won’t hurt’, as the child may not have developed a preconception about this.
  • Try not to share any personal anxiety you might have about going to the dentist.  Avoid words like hurt and pain and needle, they don’t help!
  • Select an appointment time that’s best for your child’s routine – mornings are often better.
  • Read some ‘toothy’ books to your child and discuss what they think will happen.  Preparing them for a pleasant experience is a bit step in making it so!

Ongoing dentist visits

The Robert Duhig Dental team believes it’s never too early to start healthy, life-long oral hygiene habits. Ongoing appointments for children will involve preventative evaluations, dietary advice and education about gum and tooth care. We will also show you how to help your child with brushing and flossing.

Parents are the best teachers

Your child can learn healthy oral health habits from you!

  • Make sure you brush twice a day and floss once a day
  • Choose snacks carefully and check their nutritional value and sugar content
  • Keep drinks other than water or milk to a minimum

Dental Concerns with Children

Thumbsucking

Thumbsucking can affect the alignment of your child’s teeth. It should be discouraged and should cease altogether by school age.  Easier said than done? Talk to us about options if your child is a thumbsucker.

Loss of a tooth

If your child loses a permanent tooth by trauma, don’t rinse it under water as this can damage the root surface of the tooth. Place it in a cup of milk and come immediately to Robert Duhig Dental. Time is important, so bring the child and the tooth as quickly as possible.  We reserve emergency dental appointments daily.

Fluoride

Queensland’s drinking water is now supplemented with Fluoride. Additional Fluoride supplements are no longer needed.

Fissure SealsChild with dental fissures - pediatric dentist in Brisbane helping young teeth and gums

Fissure seals are a plastic coating that gets bonded into the grooves on the top of teeth (called ‘fissures’) to help protect teeth from the decay that can typically start in these grooves. The seals act as a barrier to prevent food becoming stuck, and plaque and bacteria building up in the grooves. Fissure seals are usually placed onto six and 12 year-old molars. Although the seals don’t have a retention rate quite as good as fillings.

It is the preferred method for children because:

  • Fillings can ultimately weaken teeth, and a fissure seal may be sufficient to prevent further treatment
  • Fissure seals are far less traumatic for the patient and require no drilling

Toothy books for kids

Here is a selection of fun and easy books about teeth to read to your child.  Helping your child feel confident and even excited about their first dental experience will build a solid foundation for life long dental health.

Baby-2

  • Whose Teeth? by Jeanette Rowe

Ages 3-5

  • The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
  • Bright and Early Beginner Books: The Tooth Book by Dr Seuss
  • Charlie and Lola: My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Never Ever Fall Out by Lauren Child
  • My Loose Tooth by Stephen Krensky

Ages 6-12

  • Andrew’s Loose Tooth by Robert Munsch
  • Arthur’s Tooth by Marc Brown
  • How Many Teeth? by Paul Showers
  • Nice Try, Tooth Fairy by Mary W Olson
  • Open Wide: Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller
  • The Troublesome Tooth Fairy by Sandi Toksvig

Ready for your little one to see their first dentist in Brisbane?  We promise to be gentle!

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The federal government bulk-billing dental scheme for kids means kids can have regular check-ups from toddlerhood to adulthood.  Give your kids the best start in life with free, or low-cost dental work from Robert Duhig Dentists in Brisbane.