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Mon - Thurs: 8AM - 8PM
Fri: 8AM - Midnight
Sat: 12AM - Midnight
Sun & Bank Holidays: 12AM - 6PM
Fri: 8AM - Midnight
Sat: 12AM - Midnight
Sun & Bank Holidays: 12AM - 6PM
It is never too early to begin your child’s oral health journey. It is as important to us as it is to you that your child receives the best care available. This is why we put so much time, energy, and effort into maintaining a consistent gold standard in the quality of our treatment, service and practice.
At Dame Street Dental our dentists are highly experienced and passionate about working with children. We understand the importance of creating a fun and relaxing environment for your child; removing any anxieties or fears; and helping to instil healthy oral habits that will last a lifetime.
The first visit to the dentist can be a foreign and unusual experience for children, but it doesn’t have to be scary! Our dentists will always work at a pace which suits your child, ensuring complete comfort and an entirely pain free, happy experience.
We provide a range of dental treatments for children, including:
This first visit is all about creating a positive dental experience and building a trusting relationship with your child’s dentist. The pace and level of treatment carried out at this appointment is dictated by your child and their comfort.
Your child’s dentist will assess the number and health of baby and adult teeth present. They will also take note of the general oral hygiene and diagnose the presence of any decay. When necessary, X-rays will often be taken at this appointment to either assess the presence of decay in teeth or to determine the presence of adult teeth.
A treatment plan will then be tailor made to suit your child’s individual needs.
Your child’s dentist may also carry out a Scale and Polish at this visit.
Fissure sealants are a highly effective way to protect your child’s newly erupted adult teeth and prevent them from developing decay, thereby avoiding the need for more complex dental treatment in the future.
Fissure sealants are completely safe and their application is entirely pain free. A thin layer of white material is applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth and is then hardened using a light.
By the age of 6 most children will have their first permanent molar teeth, which are supposed to last for a lifetime. The molar teeth can be difficult to keep clean - especially at this young age - and so we recommend that your child has Fissure Sealants applied to all four of these teeth as soon as they erupt.
In some cases where your child might be deemed as higher risk of developing decay your dentist may recommend the application of fissure sealants on their baby teeth, or other adult teeth once they erupt.
Your dentist will take the time to discuss the best and easiest ways to incorporate healthy oral habits that will benefit your child for the rest of their lifetime.
Our advice:
The majority of treatments carried out for children are simple preventative procedures that will benefit your child for many years to come, such asScale and Polish and Fissure Sealants. Regular appointments also allow paediatric dentists to share diet and oral hygiene advice.
In some cases more complex treatment may be required and our dentists are highly trained to deal with all sorts of treatment including:
We recommend bringing your child for an orthodontic assessment when they reach about 8 or 9 years old. At this stage they will have a mixture of both baby and adult teeth, so this is the ideal time to begin to plan any future orthodontic treatment that may be required.
In some cases your orthodontist may want to utilise the growth of the jaw and a removable appliance may be recommended at about 9-10 years of age, prior to the placement of braces.
Most of the time children’s braces will be placed when your child reaches about 12-14 years of age.
Occasionally when a baby tooth is badly broken or decayed a composite filling may not be the best long term solution. If this is the case, your dentist may recommend a paediatric stainless steel crown to protect the remainder of the tooth and to restore its normal function in the mouth.
Occasionally when a baby tooth is badly broken or decayed a composite filling may not be the best long term solution. If this is the case, your dentist may recommend a paediatric stainless steel crown to protect the remainder of the tooth and to restore its normal function in the mouth.
This type of crown is often placed without the need for any tooth preparation such as anaesthetic or injections, meaning the procedure is completely pain free.
At your child’s initial consultation your dentist will discuss further the benefits of this treatment if required.
After your child’s first visit to the dentist it is important to take on any advice that has been given and continue with a high level of oral hygiene, as well as visiting the dentist at least twice per year.
If your child has had a complex procedure - such as an extraction - carried out then they may experience some discomfort afterward. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions on how to maximise healing and minimise any discomfort. Calpol and Nurofen can be very beneficial to manage any pain.
We recommend that you bring your child to the dentist by their first birthday. This allows your child to become comfortable with the dental environment from a young age and means they are more likely to receive preventative and routine care before more complex treatment is needed.
It is never too late to take hold of your child’s oral health - so from whatever age they first attend, our team will make sure to put your child at ease in a completely judgement free environment.
For children’s braces it is best for the first orthodontic assessment to be carried out between 8-9 years of age to allow a plan to be put in place.
You can start to clean your baby’s mouth with a damp cloth once per day even before any of their teeth have erupted.
Once their first teeth erupt you should gently brush them twice per day with a damp soft toothbrush. It is not recommended to use any toothpaste until your child reaches two years of age.
Your baby will usually begin to show signs of teething from about 6 months of age- this is when the lower front teeth will first erupt.
Some signs of teething include:
Teething is often wrongly blamed for other symptoms, which may include
If your baby experiences any of these it is more likely that they are experiencing a minor illness, and it may be worthwhile contacting your GP for further advice.
Many parents find that offering their baby chilled teething rings and comforters will help with any teething symptoms your baby may have- Calpol may be useful to also manage discomfort.
If your child is suffering from a toothache contact us as soon as possible so we can organise an emergency appointment to get your child out of pain.
To comfort your child:
A mouth guard is always recommended for children who play contact sports, especially when their permanent teeth have erupted. Mouth guards are made of a soft plastic material which fits comfortably over the upper teeth. They aim to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums from sports related injuries.
Your dentist will conduct an assessment before they advise which the best type of mouthguard for your child is.
If you are in any way concerned or anxious about your child’s teeth or oral health, call us today to make an appointment.
Dental emergencies may include:
Flossing is an essential part of any oral healthcare routine. By establishing this habit at a young age you can help to prevent gum disease and decay.
Teaching your child this skill around the same time as they learn to tie their shoes will be of great benefit to them.
Baby teeth play a really important role in helping your child to carry out everyday tasks - eating, speaking, and smiling. One of their most important roles is maintaining space in the mouth as the jaw grows.
In children who lose their baby teeth early due to decay or damage, early space closure occurs. This leads to significant crowding of the teeth and often requires more complex orthodontic treatment in the future.
Dental decay and infection also puts your child at risk of pain and serious illness, so it is vital to maintain a healthy mouth from an early age
There are many possible causes of black marks on teeth. They are often a result of staining but could also be medication related, or due to decay or a build-up of plaque.
If you are worried about black staining on your child’s teeth, call us now or click here to book an appointment.
Prolonged thumb sucking can lead to crowded and crooked teeth as well as bite problems. Most of these issues can be fixed with orthodontic treatment, however this treatment is inevitably more complex than if the habit had been stopped sooner.
If your child is still sucking their thumb when their adult teeth have started to erupt, your child’s dentist may recommend an orthodontic appliance to discourage the habit.
A paediatric dentist is one who focuses solely on providing treatment to children who are 12 years or below, or until they have lost all of their baby teeth.
