Children’s dentist in Ashburton

A good first visit

• Short and positive. We go at your child’s pace.
• You stay in the room.
• We show before we do.

Our general dentists see children of all ages. If your child needs a specialist, we refer you.

What the Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers

Eligible children are bulk billed. You pay nothing for covered treatment, up to $1,158 over two calendar years. The schedule is run by Medicare. Eligibility is checked each calendar year, so a child eligible last year is not automatically eligible this year.

Bring your child’s Medicare card to the first visit. We check eligibility and the remaining balance before we start. If a treatment falls outside the schedule, or the balance runs out, you get a written quote first. Nothing extra is done without your agreement. Bupa, HCF and nib families with eligible cover can also claim for children who are not eligible for the schedule.

Braces and growing jaws

We check your child’s bite and jaw growth at every check-up. Early signs include crowding, a deep or open bite, crossbite and thumb-sucking past age six.

An orthodontic check around age seven is common. By then the first adult molars and front teeth are through, so bite problems show. Some problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Others are better left until all adult teeth are through, around age 12 or 13. The orthodontist sets the timing.

When braces are needed, we refer your child to a specialist orthodontist. Orthodontics is not covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Health fund extras cover for orthodontics sits under its own limit, often a lifetime limit. Annual limits and waiting periods apply. Invisalign here is for adults.

We keep looking after your child’s general dental care during orthodontic treatment. Braces trap food, so check-ups and cleans matter more, not less.

Looking after teeth at home

Habits set early carry into the teenage years. Decay in baby teeth is common and preventable. Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth, so they are worth saving.

• Babies. Wipe gums and first teeth with a soft cloth or brush. No toothpaste under 18 months unless your dentist advises it. No bottle in bed.
• 18 months to six years. A pea-sized smear of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste, twice a day. Spit, don’t rinse.
• Six and over. Standard fluoride toothpaste. Parents help with brushing until about age eight. Start flossing once teeth touch.
• Food and drink. Water between meals. Keep juice, cordial and sticky snacks to mealtimes. Frequent snacking matters more than the total amount of sugar.
• Sport. A custom-fitted mouthguard for contact sport, made from a scan or impression.

The first visit, by age

Every first visit is short and unhurried. What we do depends on your child’s age.

• Toddlers, one to three. Your child sits on your lap, knee to knee with the dentist. We count the teeth, look at the gums and check for early decay along the gum line. We talk about bottles, dummies, thumb-sucking and brushing. Most toddler visits take ten to fifteen minutes. No X-rays unless something needs a closer look.
• School age, four to twelve. Your child sits in the chair on their own. We show the mirror and the water spray before we use them. We check how adult teeth are coming through, look for decay between back teeth and take X-rays if they are due. Fissure sealants are discussed when the six-year and twelve-year molars arrive.
• Teenagers, thirteen to seventeen. Teens are seen as young adults. They do most of the talking, and you can wait outside if they prefer. We check wisdom teeth, gum health and the effect of sports drinks, energy drinks and snacking. Contact sport means a fitted mouthguard. If braces are on, we check for decay around the brackets.

Before the visit, keep it simple. Tell your child the dentist will count and look at their teeth. Skip words like hurt, needle and drill. Book a time when your child is usually rested, not straight after school or close to a nap.

Bring your child’s Medicare card and your health fund card. Tell us about any medical conditions, allergies or medicines before we start.

Questions

Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

Children 0–17 are eligible if the family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or another eligible government payment. We check before the visit.

How much is covered?

Up to $1,158 over two calendar years for eligible children.

When should the first visit be?

By their first birthday, or when the first teeth appear.

Do you see teenagers?

Yes. Children of all ages.

What if my child knocks out a tooth?

Baby tooth: don’t put it back, call us. Adult tooth: hold it by the crown, rinse in milk, push it back in or keep it in milk, and come in straight away.

Are fissure sealants covered?

Yes, for eligible children under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Sealants protect the deep grooves of back molars, usually placed when they come through around age six and twelve.

What should I tell my child before the first visit?

Keep it short and positive. Say the dentist will count and look at their teeth. Avoid words like hurt or needle. Reading a picture book about a dentist visit helps young children.