A child's first trip to the dentist sets the tone for how they feel about dental care for years to come. Our team creates a calm, friendly environment so your child can become familiar with our clinic, our staff, and the dental chair, at their own pace.
The Australian Dental Association recommends children see a dentist by the time their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Starting early allows our dentists to monitor how your child's teeth and jaw are developing and to identify any concerns while they are usually straightforward to manage.
If your child is older and hasn't yet had a first check-up, that's okay too. It's never too late to book an initial visit, and we'll adjust our approach to suit your child's age and comfort level.
We know that a first dental visit can feel like a big step for both children and parents. We take things at your child's pace. Some children are ready to sit in the chair on their first visit; others prefer to watch and explore the room first. Either approach is completely normal, and our team is happy to adjust. Here's what a typical appointment involves:
A positive first experience can make a real difference to how your child feels about dental visits later on. Our team is experienced in working with young and nervous patients and will always explain what we're doing in language your child can understand.
A few things that may help:
Comprehensive care for the whole family — from a child's first visit to senior dental care — under one roof
Support for families using the Medicare-administered Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) — see our Child Dental Benefit Scheme page for eligibility details
Everything you need to know before your first visit to Care 4 Teeth.