Kid’s Dentistry

Kid's dentistry

Fun and friendly treatment and education for growing smiles.

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Totally Smiles Services

Kid's Dentistry

Ensuring children form strong oral and dental habits can lead to a lifetime of reaping the benefits for themselves. Starting early with check-ups and having a great local dentist can help with this and provide insight into what they may need with everything from bracers, cavities and even in children’s dental emergencies.

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  • Child Dental Benefit Schedule – CDBS

    Government program

    Child Dental Benefits

    Did you know you may be entitled to gain access to $1,095 worth of treatment per child?

    The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) commenced on 1 January 2014 and provides access to benefits for basic dental services to children aged 0-17 years of age. The total benefit entitlement is capped at $1,095 per child over a two calendar year period.


    How will I be able to tell if I am eligible for the CDBS?

    To get this your child must be all of the following:

    • 0 to 17 years old for at least one day that calendar year
    • eligible for Medicare
    • getting a payment from us at least once a year, or have a parent getting a payment from us at least once a year.

    What Treatments are included under the CDBS?

    The CDBS provides individual benefits for a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital.


    If you have any questions regarding the CDBS, or you would like to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Totally Smiles practice or book an appointment online now

    More information can be found at The Department of Health Website – click here

  • Dental Anxiety

    We know not everyone likes visiting the dentist — it’s our job to listen and put you at ease. If you suffer from dental anxiety, we offer a full range of treatments and options to help make it easy for you to relax, with plush recliners and in-chair entertainment. We care about maximum quality and minimum stress when visiting the dentist.


    If you believe you have dental anxiety or phobia, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Totally Smiles practice for more information or to book an appointment.

  • Dental Comfort

    At Totally Smiles, we provide a fun and relaxed environment for the whole family. As your community’s children’s dentist, we look forward to helping you look after your kids’ teeth from infancy to their teenager years and beyond.


    Get them comfortable at the dentist

    We understand that not everyone may like visiting the dentist; however, it is vital that children get used to coming in to see the dentist while they are young to help them form good lifelong associations. Our approachable, down-to-earth, and easy going team are here to put your family at ease and to ensure your children always have a pleasant experience when they visit us. Their dental comfort is key in ensuring they develop a good association with visiting the dentist.

     

    While children are growing, we monitor their facial growth and dental development closely. This will help avoid crowding of teeth and jaw issues. We also assess and address factors such as large tonsils, sleep apnoea or snoring, mouth breathing, and thumb sucking.

    Bring your children to see us so that we can diagnose any problems early and your child can develop a happy, healthy, trusting relationship with our children’s dentist.


    For more information on your child’s dental care needs, contact your local Totally Smiles practice or book an appointment online now

  • Dental Urgencies (Kids)

    Emergencies

    At Totally Smiles we understand accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your child’s permanent tooth. For all dental emergencies, it is important to take your child to the dentist as soon as possible.

    Here are some of the top dental emergencies and urgencies that we see and what you should do about them:


    Toothache

    A toothache may not sound like a dental emergency until you have one. Pain associated with a toothache can be quite intense. It is important to clean out the area where the pain is coming from as soon as possible. Use a combination of brushing, rinsing with mouthwash, and flossing to remove any debris from around your teeth and gums that may be causing the problem. Contact us immediately.

    Chipped or Cracked Tooth

    If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, rinse your mouth out with warm water. If there is any bleeding, apply pressure using a clean gauze or cloth. An ice pack to the affected area may also be used to reduce swelling. See the dentist as soon as possible for an examination, especially if you chipped or cracked your tooth through an injury.

    Knocked Out Tooth

    It may be possible to restore a knocked out tooth if you can keep the tooth in good condition and get to a dental office within 60 minutes. You should rinse your mouth out with warm water. If possible, try to place the tooth back into your mouth in the right direction and hold it there until you can get to the dentist. If you cannot get your tooth to fit back into the space, then place the tooth in a cup of milk or warm water with salt in it to preserve it. You can also use a cold compress to reduce swelling.

    Tooth Abscess

    An abscessed tooth is a sign of a serious infection in your mouth. If you have severe swelling of your gums or cheek, it is important to contact us immediately or seek treatment at the local hospital emergency room. A medical professional can give you a shot or prescribe medication to fight the infection.

    Emergency Appointments

    Emergency appointments are available and we are dedicated to seeing you as soon as possible. Whether you are at home or on holiday when your emergency arises, you can rest assured that you will receive the same exceptional experience from one Totally Smiles centre to another.


    If you have a dental emergency contact your local Totally Smiles practice, or book online now

  • Fissure Sealants

    Fissure sealants are a safe and comfortable way of protecting teeth against decay. Pits and fissures are the deep grooves that make up the chewing surface of your teeth.

    Sometimes, grooves are so deep that it’s impossible for the bristles of a toothbrush to keep the surface clean. In these cases we may apply a dental sealant, commonly known as a fissure seal, to fill the pits and fissures and act as a barrier to plaque, bacteria and food debris.


    For more information about fissure sealants, contact your local Totally Smiles practice today, or book an appointment online now.

  • Fluoride Treatment

    Fluoride treatment is a quick and simple process administered by our dentists or hygiene team, to help prevent tooth decay.

    Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. It’s been an essential oral health treatment for decades, which supports healthy tooth enamel and fights harmful bacteria to teeth and gums.

    If you’re at high risk of developing cavities we recommend a fluoride treatment at your regular dental visit.


    Contact your local Totally Smiles practice to learn how to better protect your teeth, or book an appointment online now.

  • Frenectomy

    A frenectomy is a procedure where an irregular frenum (pronounced free-num) is removed to help preserve oral health.

    The frenum is the tissue that connects the gum to the lip — you can feel it when you put your tongue inside your upper or lower lip. A frenectomy is recommended for everyone with an abnormal frenum and is commonly corrected in babies and toddlers.

    An abnormal frenum can cause:

    • pain and chewing difficulties
    • breastfeeding problems
    • decay and bad breath
    • speech issues
    • difficulties brushing and flossing
    • cosmetic problems

    Contact your local Totally Smiles practice to learn more or book in your next appointment, or book an appointment online now.

  • Mouthguards

    We all know Australians are sports mad, but a downside of this is we at Totally Smiles see too many broken and missing teeth from sports, even those considered to be non-contact. We are passionate about prevention and would rather help you protect your teeth than go through the pain and expense associated with a knocked out tooth; hence, we offer custom-fitted mouthguards so you can focus on playing without any worries.


    What is a mouthguard?

    A mouthguard is a clear or coloured plastic device that fits over your teeth to protect them from any type of impact. If you or your child plays sport, a mouthguard may be a compulsory requirement before stepping up to play. If a mouthguard is not compulsory, you should still consider whether the use of one would be in the best interests of you and your family’s health and safety.

    Who needs a mouthguard?

    Mouthguards are typically required when playing contact sports such as football, hockey, soccer, basketball, boxing, and lacrosse. However, experts are now suggesting that mouthguards be worn even by athletes playing non-contact sports such as tennis and gymnastics. This is because playing sports puts you at a higher risk of damaging your teeth. Whether another player hits you, you fall, or a ball or piece of equipment hits you in the face, just one small accident can cause major tooth damage or even knock out one or more teeth. Using a mouthguard can prevent these types of injuries.

    Types of mouthguards

    There are several types of mouthguards available on the market today, including:

    • boil-and-bite
    • ready-made
    • custom-made

    Boil-and-bite mouthguards are the cheapest style available. They can be found in chemists or sporting goods stores and they only take a few minutes to form. The ready-made types are ready to be used as soon as you purchase them, but may need to be cut to fit your mouth size. Both styles of mouthguard can be extremely uncomfortable to wear and often players will discard them during play.

    Custom-fitted mouthguards

    Custom-made mouthguards offer the most comfort and protection because we mould them to fit the specific contours of your mouth.

    The safety provided by custom-fitted guards precisely made for a player’s unique mouth is superior to any off-the-shelf sports mouthguard.


    For more information about mouthguard options, contact your local Totally Smiles practice today, or book an appointment online now.

  • Oral Hygiene

    Even with regular visits to the dentist, it’s essential to maintain effective oral hygiene at home to prevent excess tartar from building on your teeth, leading to the development of gum disease or decay.

    Totally Smiles offers simple and effective oral hygiene education during appointments to ensure you feel confident in maintaining your winning smile between visits.


    To get you started, we recommend:

    • Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes using a soft toothbrush to gently clean the teeth and along the gum lines, focusing on only a couple of teeth at a time.
    • Flossing daily using traditional floss, a curved floss pick or a water flosser to clean between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.
    • Keeping your breath fresh by cleaning your tongue. Brush your tongue from back to front, to remove food debris that collects after meals.

    For more information on good oral hygiene, contact your local Totally Smiles practice.

  • Preventative Care

    At Totally Smiles we’re passionate about prevention, empowering Australians with the knowledge to take care of their smile.

    Preventative care is vital in ensuring a healthy and beautiful smile for life. Alongside good oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day and flossing daily, Totally Smiles’ expert dentists recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist every six months.

    A professional clean involves removing any plaque and tartar on the teeth that is unable to be removed by daily brushing and flossing.

    Buying the correct toothbrush and using quality toothpaste is also vital in keeping your smile healthy.


    For more information on preventative care and how you can ensure a winning smile for life, book an appointment at your local Totally Smiles practice.

  • Tooth Cavities

    Common

    At Totally Smiles, we firmly believe that prevention is better than cure, and when it comes to tooth cavities and decay in children, early prevention is the key.


    What is tooth decay?

    Tooth decay is the general name for the damage that is done when the bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth create acid that erodes teeth. It can happen when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are left on the teeth. Such foods include milk, soda, raisins, candy, cake, fruit juices, cereals, and bread

    Every tooth has three layers:

    • The hard enamel on the outside
    • The middle layer of dentin
    • The pulp at the centre of the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels

    The longer tooth decay is left untreated, the more layers are affected and the worse the damage will be.

    What causes tooth decay?

    All children have bacteria in their mouth. So all children are at risk for tooth decay. Dry mouth causes 30% of all tooth decay. This is because saliva helps to wash away food debris and reduce plaque, which forms on teeth and gums. Plaque contains the bacteria that feed on sugars from food that remain on teeth. As the bacteria feed, they produce acids that erode tooth enamel over time, causing decay and tooth cavities.

    How do I know if I have tooth cavities?

    Unless your child visits the dentist for regular six-monthly check-ups, you may not know your child has tooth decay until you have a cavity or even an infected tooth. If this happens, you may experience:

    • A toothache
    • Swelling in your gums near a painful tooth
    • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
    • White, grey, brown, or black spots on your teeth

    How is it treated?

    Regular check-ups help detect decay before a cavity forms and fluoride treatments may be sufficient. However, if the decay has eaten through the enamel, you may need:

    • A filling, when the dentist will fill the hole and restore the tooth to its original shape.
    • A crown if the decay has been left longer and you need a replacement for part of a tooth.
    • Root canal therapy if the pulp of the tooth becomes infected.
    • Extraction if the root of the tooth is severely damaged. The tooth may need to be removed and replaced with a bridge or an implant.

    How to prevent tooth decay in your child

    At Totally Smiles, we want to help you prevent tooth decay before it starts. Here’s how:

    • Make sure they brush their teeth twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed.
    • Use fluoride toothpaste.
    • Floss twice a day after the age of 2
    • Avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar, especially soft drinks, sweet cereal, desserts, and sticky foods.
    • Don’t let them snack before bedtime. Food left on the teeth overnight is more likely to cause cavities.
    • See the team at Totally Smiles for regular check-ups so that any early problems can be treated before major, expensive treatments are needed.

    However, if you do get a toothache, don’t delay and visit one of our more than 50 practices nationwide before it gets worse.

    Contact your local Totally Smiles practice to book in your next dental examination, or book an appointment online now.

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