Your toddler's first dental visit
Your toddler’s first dental visit will be an unfamiliar experience, so don't worry if they aren't keen to take part. Dental practitioners are trained to make children feel comfortable.
When to take your toddler
Take your toddler for their first dental visit soon before their second birthday. A dental check-up at this early age will:
- allow your toddler to become familiar with the sights, sounds and smells of the dentist
- allow early detection of tooth decay and other dental conditions
- enable dental staff to give advice and instruction on toothbrushing and on good eating habits.
Preparing your toddler
Here are some steps you can take to help prepare your toddler for their first dental check-up:
- allow your toddler to visit the dentist with you or with older siblings
- do not use words such as drill and needle, the dentist will use special words to explain things
- talk about the good things about visiting the dentist, such as counting teeth and learning how to care for them
- make the dental appointment an accepted part of a routine, not a special event
- arrange for the appointment to be in the morning so tiredness is not a problem
- arrive a little early so your toddler can become familiar with the new surroundings.
Is there anything else I need to do?
Stay with your toddler during the check-up. Inform the dental staff of any medical condition or past incident which may affect your toddler's behaviour and ability to cope. This will allow the dental team to adjust their approach. Be a passive observer and let the dental staff capture and hold your toddler's complete attention.
Where to take your toddler for a dental check-up
- Holders of a Health Care Card or Pension Card are eligible for free dental care at public dental clinics located throughout Queensland.
- Children aged from 4 years and school children up to the completion of year 10 are eligible for free dental care from the Queensland School Dental Service.
- Private dentists are listed in healthdirect's service finder. Private dentists charge fees that may be partly refunded by private health care cover.
Child dental benefit schedule (CDBS)
The Child dental benefits schedule (CDBS) is a dental program by the Australian Government offering eligible children up to $1,026 in benefits for basic dental services in either a public or private setting. This includes dental examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canal treatments and extractions. Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work.
For children to be eligible for the CDBS, they must be:
- 0-17 years of age on 01 January in the calendar year
- eligible for Medicare
- getting an eligible payment, or have a parent getting a payment from Centrelink at least once a year, including the Family Tax Benefit Part A.
For more information about the program, visit the Services Australia website.