Kids

At Green Apple Dentistry we take pride in the fact that our child patients love coming to visit us. We make every effort to make their experience a positive one and because we have nitrous oxide (happy gas) available in all our surgeries, we have the opportunity to perform complex treatments in the dental chair. Of course, there are instances where a child may require a General Anaesthetic for treatment and our dentists will perform this at Calvary Day Procedures Centre.

A Child’s First Dental Visit

Parents play an important role in setting the stage for making dental visits a positive experience. Any anxiety displayed by parents will be picked up by the child.
Here are some ways to help the dental visit go more smoothly:

• Tell your child about the visit but limit the amount of details given. You may want to tell your child they are going to meet a new friend, their dentist, who is going to count their teeth. Try to respond to questions with simple, to-the-point answers. Let the dentist answer more complex or detailed questions.
• We advise not using statements such as: “If you’re good, it’s not going to hurt” or “Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you if you behave.” These phrases may scare the child and make the dental visit an unwelcome one. Avoid the use of the words “hurt” or “pain”.
• There is no need to promise a reward for going to the dentist. Try to treat the visit as a normal experience like having a haircut.
• Most young children feel more comfortable and secure having a parent or sibling in the treatment room.
• When you enter the treatment room, try to remain a casual observer. Remember, your child can only listen to one person at a time.
• Children are not born with fear of the dentist. A “learning process” has to take place to create this negative emotion. It is very important to try to conceal your own anxiety about the dentist. If you are nervous, your child will be nervous. If you are upbeat about it, your child will be too.
• NSW health guidelines recommend children should have their first dental appointment before the age of three.

The Child Dental Benefits Scheme

The Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) provides access to dental services for children aged 2 – 17.   The total benefit entitlement is capped at $1000 over a 2-year period and is only available to families who receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB-A). You can check your child’s eligibility for the CDBS by calling  13 20 11. At Green Apple Dentistry we happily accept patients eligible for the CDBS. If you would like treatment for your child under this scheme, please inform our receptionists at the time of booking your appointment.