When to visit a paediatric dentist?

February 26, 2022

Children’s dental health is really important, creating healthy habits and having your children’s teeth checked frequently is the best way to avoid poor dental health. In this blog, we’ll cover all about UK paediatric dentistry (children’s dentistry), what age you should take your child to the dentist and some paediatric dental care tips.

First of all, is there a difference between specific paediatric dental care and your average dental practice? Whilst most general dentists will see your child for check-ups you may want to visit a paediatric dentist. A paediatric dentist is someone who is most qualified for children, much like how we have specialist doctors for children. Some children cases or extremely nervous/distressed children may be referred to a paediatric dentist. Whilst the main reason for visiting a paediatric dentist is to ensure your children’s teeth are healthy, there may be other reasons such as children’s teeth growing in the wrong place, pain or developmental issues. Although conscious sedation in paediatric dentistry is not always preferred, dentists specialising in children are sometimes brought in if surgery at any level is needed. The best way to find a children’s dental clinic or a paediatric dentist is from a referral from your dentist. This isn’t the only way as you can look for practices with this service that are taking new patients, note here that it may be a little more tricky to find NHS practices accepting new patients!

What age should you take your child to the dentist?

This number usually varies depending on what source you look to, however, the general advice is as soon as the child gets their first tooth. Your child’s first tooth will likely begin to appear from 4-7 months old. Not only does taking your child to the dentist early ensure their teeth are healthy and developing well, but it also creates a good relationship with your dentist early on. Dental fear is common, and we typically see scared people have either avoided the dentist due to trauma or because a member of their family is fearful, so creating a positive connection is key.

Should my child see an NHS dentist or a private dentist?

This is totally up to you, children under the age of 18 are seen for free at the NHS providing they are still in full-time education. Whilst you can take your child to your private practice many opt to make use of the free service at the NHS. If you have already visited an NHS practice you can ask to register your child there or find another practice you think may be more suitable. When looking for a dental practice we recommend you have a look on the internet, a search like: ‘children’s dentist near me’ will get you some handy results, just make sure you check out the reviews.

How can you take care of your child’s teeth in between dentist trips?

Your dentist will advise you of any specific recommendations for your child, but before we end this blog let’s go over some of the basics.
1. Limit your child’s sugar intake. Excessive sugar consumption is bad for our health, but it can also cause issues for your child’s teeth. It is estimated in the UK around 25% of children under 5 have tooth decay. This is a staggering number and can cause issues in later life.
2. Create a good morning and bedtime routine to encourage your children to brush their teeth.
3. For toddlers that are struggling to brush their teeth, we know, it’s not always plain sailing. You can help to keep your child’s mouth clean by giving them plenty of water to keep their mouth hydrated and clean. You may also find it useful to wipe babies’ and toddlers’ teeth with a soft cloth.
4. Start brushing your child’s teeth from when they get their first tooth.