Who is a paediatric dentist?
A general dentist is a dental professional trained to treat patients of all ages. A paediatric dentist has an additional three years of specialised training to treat patients from birth to 18 years of age.
Paediatric dentists are specialists who are trained and qualified to provide comprehensive dental care for children from infancy through adulthood. The specialty is one of 11 recognised specialties of the Australian Dental Association and other international associations.
Paediatric dentists provide the following services:
- Family dental education
- Early detection and management of oral health problems, including tongue ties and dental decay, dental anomalies, missing or extra teeth
- Care for children with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges
- Inter-disciplinary dental treatments for children with genetic disabilities, maxillofacial (upper jaw and face) defects and more.
- Dental care under sedation or general anaesthesia for children who are unable to manage dental procedures.
How often should children visit the dentist?
Generally, we recommend that children see a dentist every six months, with the first visit within six months of the first tooth appearing, or by one year of age. This may vary depending on your child’s needs, his/her eating habits and how well the teeth are cared for.
With regular check-ups, we can also observe any irregularities in the teeth spacing, bite, tooth mobility and facial structure. If any problems have developed since the last visit, our specialists can apply early and effective treatment to limit progression into larger problems. In addition, regular dental check-ups at an early age will help your child accept good dental care as part of their routine.
Why is it important to bring my child in for regular visits if they are not having problems?
Preventative dental care is the best way to ensure your child does not develop dental problems. The earlier a dental problem can be detected, the better the chances of fixing or eliminating the problem.
By bringing your child to the dentist for regular check-ups every six months, the dental home becomes a familiar environment for your child, and your paediatric dentist can help you keep their teeth and gums as healthy as possible. Routine visits to your child’s dentist also help to provide your child with good dental habits they will have all their life. As with your car, preventing problems with regular maintenance is much cheaper and easier than fixing a problem after it arises.
How can I help my child have healthy teeth in between their dental visits?
There are some regular and simple steps you can help your child take to keep their teeth as healthy as possible in between their dental visits.
These include:
- Supervise and teach your child to brush their teeth with a fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day.
- Avoid frequent snacking; but when they do snack, give them healthy snacks.
- Encourage flossing at least once a day.
- Make sure your child has regular dental check-ups.
How much will I be out of pocket if I have private health insurance?
If you have dental (also called extras/ancillary) cover through your private health insurance, we can claim it on the spot – leaving you with only the gap amount to settle. We provide this as a service to all our patients. Just as there is no set ‘fee’ for dental treatment, there is no set ‘rebate’ for dental treatment.
Tooth Town is not controlled, contracted or owned by any health fund or corporate entity. We are 100% independent and driven by care, not by profit. Our priority lies in looking after the health, happiness and well-being of our patients.
Can I use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)?
We offer treatment under CDBS for all patients eligible under government scheme only as a non-bulk billed service provider. The CDBS commenced on 1 January 2014 and provides access to benefits for basic dental services to around 3.4 million children aged 2-17 years.
The total benefit entitlement is capped at $1,026 per child over a two calendar year period. The CDBS has a means test, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A or a relevant Australian Government payment.
The CDBS provides individual benefits for a limited range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Benefits are not available for referrals, orthodontic or cosmetic dental work, and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital.
How can I use the CDBS at Tooth Town?
- Please advise our staff that you are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule when making your initial appointment.
- You must bring your Medicare Card with you on the day of your appointment. Without your child’s Medicare details, we cannot offer you treatment under Medicare or provide you with Medicare item numbers.
- To make life easy for you, we will submit the claim electronically so you won’t have to submit any paperwork on your own.
- You cannot claim a benefit from CDBS and from your private health fund for the same dental service.
Link reference
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule
