Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics

Visiting a paediatric dentist can be a scary experience for some little ones. Children who have never been to the dentist can find the environment with its bright lights, strange sharp tools, and unfamiliar noises to be confusing and even distressing. Some kids might have heard ‘horror stories’ from their friends at school and accidentally overheard their parents talking about their own anxieties that they’ve carried with them into adulthood.

Your child will be made to feel at ease and encouraged to have fun with the support of a specialist paediatric dentist at our clinics from their very first appointment. Our children’s waiting area features bright colours, toys, and books to replicate environments that they’re already familiar with, such as their home nursery and playgroups. They will be greeted by our friendly team, who will explain the procedures that will be carried out in a fun way that’s easy for them to understand so they are aware of what they can expect to happen and why it’s necessary. The first visit will give them a chance to slowly become familiar with the environment and get to know our child-friendly orthodontist and dental team. They will also be invited to ask any questions they might have.

Children are encouraged to listen to comforting music or hold their favourite toy while the paediatric dentist gently examines or brushes their teeth. At the end of the appointment, they’ll be given a small reward and praised for their bravery. Positive reinforcement at an early age is a great way to get them excited for the next routine appointment or a specific procedure such as the removal or repair of a broken tooth.

Eligibility Criteria for Free Dental Care

The Australian Government has set up the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) scheme to part- or fully fund services such as routine tooth and mouth health checks, x-rays, cleaning treatments, extractions, and root canals, among others. Each child could receive up to $1,132 for 2 consecutive years if they pass the following eligibility checks:

• They are aged 17 or under.
• They are entitled to Medicare.
• You or they receive certain pension and benefit payments.

Full eligibility criteria can be found on the Australian Government website.

Unfortunately, the government scheme does not cover cosmetic procedures or hospital dental treatments, and there are no public or private orthodontists that accept Medicare due to budgetary allocation restraints.

How to Cover the Costs of Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children

If you are on a low income and are unable to afford to fund orthodontic care for children, it can be a challenge to get your little ones the vital treatment they need to keep their teeth healthy, but it’s not impossible. Some of the options available to cover the costs include:

• Tapping into your private health insurance: If your workplace offers health insurance employee benefits for you and your family, you might be eligible to have some of the costs for braces for kids and retainers reimbursed as part of your plan. Make sure that you check the terms and conditions set by your insurance provider before your child has any treatment.

• Instalment plans: We make it easy for you to get support from an orthodontist for kids with flexible and affordable payment plans. You don’t need to put off getting vital dental treatment for your children due to fees.

• Applying to charitable funds: There are some organisations in the not-for-profit sector, such as Just 4 Kids Children’s Charity, that might be able to supply funding towards orthodontic fees.

• Crowdfunding: You could set up a fundraiser to cover the costs of your children’s orthodontist care on platforms such as JustGiving and GoFundMe. Many people want to see young children access oral health services early on and will be willing to donate money to your cause.

Does My Child Need to See a Paediatric Orthodontist?

When problems with your child’s teeth and jaw become apparent, early intervention from a children’s dentist and orthodontist is crucial to help prevent conditions from getting worse and affecting the development and emergence of their adult teeth. You can also reduce the possibility of having to pay for more costly, invasive, and complicated remedies in the future. Your child might need to come in to see us for orthodontic management if they are experiencing the following:

Misaligned teeth: It can be challenging for children with teeth that are crooked or overcrowded to brush them properly. They might also experience problems with speech development and pronunciation as well as difficulties chewing food.

Disruptions to the loss of baby teeth: If your child’s baby teeth come out too early, their permanent teeth might be crooked, or their mouth could be uncomfortably overcrowded. If their teeth fall out too late, their adult teeth might not come through at the right time, making eating difficult.

Large gaps between teeth: Your child could feel self-conscious and withdraw socially if they feel ostracised due to the appearance of their teeth.

The Australian Dental Association reports that thousands of minors are hospitalised annually for issues that have a negative effect on their teeth and overall health. Parents don’t often know where to turn for support if their child is afraid to go to the dentist or they can’t afford to pay the fees. At Smile On Clinics, we have the best paediatric orthodontist and dentist team who will be there for you and your children every step of the way!

Get in touch with us now and be confident that your child will be in the best hands. Read Less