Most parents wait until their child has a toothache before booking a dental appointment.
That is understandable, but it also means the first visit happens at the worst possible moment: when a child is already in pain, already anxious, and the dentist has real work to do.
Starting earlier changes the dynamic completely.
When Should Your Child First See a Dentist?
The Australian Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist by the age of one, or within six months of the first tooth coming through, whichever happens first.
Many parents are surprised by this. Baby teeth tend to arrive anywhere from four to twelve months of age, so a first appointment in the first year of life is earlier than most families expect.
The reason for the early timing is not that a one-year-old is likely to need treatment. It is that the first visit establishes a baseline, gives the dentist a chance to spot any early signs of decay, and, just as importantly, gets your child used to the environment before there is anything stressful happening.
Quick guide
First tooth in at six months? Book around 12 months. First tooth later than six months? Book within six months of it arriving. Teeth still not through by 12 months? Still worth a visit to check development is on track.
What Actually Happens at a First Appointment?
For very young children, the first appointment is low-key by design.
The dentist will have a gentle look inside your child's mouth, check how the teeth and gums are developing, look for any early signs of decay, and talk you through cleaning technique at home for their age.
X-rays are not usually taken at a first visit unless there is a specific reason to. No cleaning paste, no drilling, no needles. The whole appointment typically takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Young children are sometimes examined while sitting on the parent's lap, which keeps them comfortable and gives the dentist a good view. Older children can usually sit in the chair on their own and often find the experience genuinely interesting.
Our children's dentistry team at Perfect Dental Fairfield is experienced at working with kids of all ages, including the ones who are a little uncertain at first.
How to Prepare Your Child (and Yourself)
The most useful thing you can do before the appointment is keep your own attitude calm and neutral.
Children pick up on anxiety very quickly. If a parent says something like 'it won't hurt, I promise' or 'don't worry, it's fine,' they hear the subtext, not the reassurance. A better approach is to describe what will happen in simple, matter-of-fact terms: 'The dentist will have a look at your teeth and count them.'
- Read a book about going to the dentist a few days before (there are several good ones for toddlers and early primary age)
- Avoid using dental visits as a consequence for not brushing. That creates a negative association before the appointment even happens
- Let your child bring a comfort item: a favourite toy or a small blanket is completely fine
- Try to book at a time when your child is usually alert and happy. Avoid nap time or right before a meal
- Talk about the dentist the same way you would talk about any routine health visit
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule: What It Covers
If your child is eligible, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) can significantly reduce the cost of their dental care.
The CDBS provides a benefit of up to $1,158 per child over two consecutive calendar years for a range of basic dental services.
| Service | Covered by CDBS? |
|---|---|
| Check-ups and examinations | Yes |
| X-rays | Yes |
| Scale and clean | Yes |
| Fluoride treatments | Yes |
| Fissure sealants | Yes |
| Fillings | Yes |
| Root canal treatment | Yes |
| Extractions | Yes |
| Orthodontics (braces) | No |
| Cosmetic dental treatment | No |
| Hospital dental (general anaesthetic) | No |
To be eligible, your child must be aged 0 to 17 at some point during the calendar year, and your family must receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or an equivalent Centrelink payment. You can check eligibility through Services Australia.
Perfect Dental Fairfield bulk bills eligible CDBS patients, meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost for treatments within the schedule benefit.
Not sure if your child is eligible?
We can check your child's CDBS status on the day of the appointment using Medicare online. If they are eligible, we will apply the benefit directly so there is nothing more for you to do.
What Happens Between Appointments?
Six-monthly check-ups are the standard recommendation for most children, though your dentist may suggest a different interval depending on your child's risk of decay.
Between visits, the biggest factors in your child's dental health are brushing technique, fluoride toothpaste, and diet.
- Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste for children under 18 months, a pea-sized amount from 18 months onward
- Supervise brushing until around age 7 to 8, when most children have the manual dexterity to do it reliably on their own
- Limit sugary drinks, including fruit juice and flavoured milk. Water and plain milk are the best options
- If your child uses a bottle, do not put them to bed with juice or sweet drinks in it. This is one of the most common causes of early childhood tooth decay