Paediatric dentistry Gladstone

Parents have a lot to think about when it comes to the health of their children. At Fanelli Dental, our entire team has undergone extensive additional training in the area of child development to ensure that your little one receives the very best dental care possible.

While that’s often easier said than done, our dentists know the challenges many parents face when it comes to getting their young ones to brush and floss and even come to appointments. That’s why we’re here to help you help your kids, with kindness, patience, and friendly faces that can help explain what’s going on in a way they can understand.

Ultimately, it’s all about ensuring kids’ dental health and setting them up for life.

What is kids' dental?

Paediatric dentistry, or children’s dentistry, is the services and treatments given to those under the age of 18 for their oral health needs.

Kids dental care covers oral health services for children and teenagers. Most children start visits at around two years of age unless an earlier concern needs attention.

The first appointment helps your child get familiar with the dental chair, the environment, and the team. The dentist performs a visual check of the teeth, discusses any concerns, and guides you on home care. You and your child have time to ask questions and understand the next steps.

From there, your child will receive standard dental care as they grow. This includes all of the usual treatments and services you would expect as an adult, including:

• Preventive care
• Routine dental cleaning
• Oral examinations
• Dental x-rays
• Fillings
• Orthodontics (plates or braces)
• Extractions

In addition to annual check-ups, it’s important to follow recommendations regarding treatments or procedures for dental issues.

How does kids' dental work?

As children grow, their baby teeth will slowly fall out and be replaced by adult teeth.

This means there is a lot more change and development than in adult teeth, which is why children need regular check-ups to ensure everything is developing as it should and to treat or avoid problems before they arise.

Regular active maintenance

At the core of our paediatric dental care are routine visits to evaluate the health of teeth and gums and provide children’s dental cleanings, cavity prevention and fillings when necessary.

We also evaluate health-related concerns such as:

• Airway
• Tongue position and function
• Lip seal
• Swallowing
• Mouth/nasal breathing
• Oral habits (thumb and finger-sucking)
• Facial muscle development

Our Gladstone dentists will work with parents on behaviour modification and exercises to correct habits that may disrupt normal development of the jaw, mouth and teeth.

Orientation programmes

Creating a healthy start for young smiles begins by taking the fear of the unknown out of their dental care. We make dentistry fun to gain the trust of our youngest patients. Dr Remo Fanelli and our entire team take their time to work at your child’s pace to increase their confidence in our team and in themselves.

Additional programmes we offer:

Orofacial Myology (Face Gym)

We provide training to assist in the normal function of the tongue, lips and facial muscles. We will work together using simple and fun exercises that produce amazing changes in facial appearance and muscle function.

Breathing Re-Training (Breathe Well)

Did you know that how you breathe may have a significant impact on how your face develops? Mouth-breathing leads to incorrect tongue posture where the tongue sits at the bottom of the mouth floor rather than against the roof of the mouth.

When we mouth-breathe, we over-breathe, causing a deficit of oxygen in every cell of the body. Mouth breathing is also linked with high arches and dental crowding.

By nose breathing, the tongue takes a rooftop position and forms a template for the growing arch.

Advantages of children’s dentistry

Looking after our children’s health is vital, and their oral health is a big part of that. Here are a few key advantages of paediatric dentistry:

Support strong oral health in childhood

Regular check ups and steady hygiene habits help prevent pain and early dental problems. This keeps your child comfortable and supports healthy development.

Build lifelong habits

Early visits teach children the value of brushing, cleaning, and routine care. These habits form a foundation for strong oral health through every stage of life.

Reduce future dental issues

Poor oral health in childhood often leads to problems later. Preventative care and early guidance lower the risk of discomfort and complex treatment in adulthood.

Create confidence at the dentist

Early, calm visits help children feel relaxed in the chair. This reduces dental anxiety and builds positive experiences as they grow.

How much does kids' dental cost?

The cost of a standard children’s check-up will vary in price just as adult treatments do. If you go to a specialist paediatric dentist rather than a standard dentist who offers children’s dentistry, you may be charged extra.

For children who are eligible for Medicare, and receive at least one additional benefit, they may be eligible for CDBS. CDBS benefits and payments can be used to pay for specified treatments at a private dentist. CDBS provides $1,132 in benefits to be used over two consecutive calendar years, for basic dental services inclusive of dental examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, and extractions.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

If you are eligible for CDBS, you will be able to use your benefits and make an appointment immediately with our team.

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What to expect from your child’s dental appointment

Paediatric dental care is usually quite similar to adult check-ups but with a little more care and patience. Here’s what you can generally expect:

• The dentist will introduce themselves and chat a little to make your child comfortable
• You will be invited to stay in the room with your child
• For younger kids, the appointment will include asking you several questions about their health and habits at home
• The dentist will perform an oral examination
• For children over the age of five, the dentist may take an x-ray
• The visit won’t take much more than 30 minutes
• The dentist will be extra gentle with kids and will explain what’s happening at each point
• If your child gets scared or upset, you can pause the appointment to comfort them and help them calm down

Maintaining your child's dental health at home

It is critical to establish healthy dental habits for your children, including brushing sessions at least twice a day for two minutes each session, as well as flossing when age-appropriate after two years old.

Our goal is to help children develop healthy smiles that will last a lifetime; get in touch with our friendly team and schedule an appointment.

For young babies, use a cloth to clean their gums and when their teeth begin to appear, use a specially designed toothbrush for infants to keep their teeth healthy and clean.

Do not use any toothpaste until 18 months of age, at which time you may use a pea-size amount of children's toothpaste with low fluoride until two years of age. From ages two to eight, children may use a smear of regular children’s toothpaste for brushing their teeth. Additionally, aim for a diet that’s low in sugar, as sugar can cause tooth decay at any age.

Keep in mind that children younger than the age of six will need your assistance to brush their teeth properly. And don't forget to replace toothbrushes every three to four months.