Mon–Fri 8am–5pmSaturday By appointment onlySunday Closed
Call (02) 4216 99117/9-25 Captain Cook Dr, Barrack Heights NSW 2528Kids Dentistry
A first dental visit can be short and simple. A dentist checks your child's teeth, gums, jaw and bite and talks with you about caring for their teeth.
Fees, private health benefits and third-party payment arrangements vary. Please confirm current details before relying on an option.
Kids Dentistry
Your child’s first dental visit is recommended when their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. An early appointment introduces the dental setting and lets us check their teeth and mouth development. We can also discuss brushing, diet and habits with you.
A children's visit usually includes questions about your child's health and diet, then a look at the teeth, tongue, cheeks, gums, lips and throat. Depending on age, the dentist may clean the teeth, apply fluoride or take X-rays, and will talk with you about brushing and about food and drink that affect teeth. Tell the team about any worries your child has and ask how the visit can be adapted for them.
Use a soft brush and water as soon as teeth appear. From 18 months, a small pea-sized amount of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste is generally recommended twice daily; ask us for advice for your child. Avoid sweetened dummies and sugary drinks in bottles, and discuss bedtime bottles with the dentist. We can show you how to help with brushing and recommend when to return.
Sucking a thumb can affect the bite as adult teeth come through, so raise it with the dentist if you are unsure. Children can have regular check-ups from about 12 months of age, and the same routine suits the whole family, so read our dental check-up and clean information. If a cavity is found, our tooth coloured fillings information explains how a filling works. For a knock to a tooth or a toothache, see the emergency dentist in Shellharbour page.
A first check-up and clean for children is capped at $200, or $150 where an OPG is not needed. We also can bulk bill eligible dental services under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), subject to eligibility and available benefits. Children aged 0 to 17 may qualify. For a two-year period starting in 2026, the benefit cap is $1,158. Ask us to check your child’s eligibility and remaining balance before treatment; see Services Australia’s CDBS information. Read our questions about dental fees, patient offers and terms and payment options, or contact our team.
There is no wrong time to start, but these are common moments.
These simple activities can help your child become familiar with a dental visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
These general answers can help you prepare questions for an individual conversation.
Yes. A first dental visit is recommended when the first tooth appears or by your child's first birthday. Kids dentistry in Shellharbour starts with those early teeth, not a full adult-style examination to prepare for. This is also your opportunity to talk about brushing, feeding and anything you have noticed.
Related information: check-up and clean page.
Related Care
Call or book online and say what you would like help with. Ask what your visit includes and what it costs. At the visit, discuss your concerns with the dentist; you can review any proposed treatment and its costs before deciding.
