Talk to our Toorak team about your treatment options.
Caring for little smiles – Children’s dentist Toorak
At our Toorak dental clinic, we believe every child deserves a positive start to their dental journey. Our caring team provides gentle check-ups, preventive care, and a warm environment to ensure kids feel safe and comfortable.
When should your child first see a dentist?
If you're looking for a children's dentist in Toorak, Toorak Village Dental Care follows the Australian Dental Association's advice: a child's first dental visit when their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday. Early visits are short and relaxed. We'll check your child's teeth and gums, talk about teething, feeding and brushing, and help them get used to the dental chair.
For younger children, it's often easiest for them to sit on your lap. We'll keep the appointment positive and stop if your child needs a break. Parents are welcome to stay with their child throughout every visit with our children's dentist in Toorak.
Children's dentist in Toorak: what happens at a visit
At each check-up we:
✓Check every tooth
Count and check your child's teeth for early signs of decay.
✓Watch development
Look at how their teeth and jaws are developing.
✓Clean and polish
If needed.
✓Apply fluoride
If it's recommended.
✓Teach brushing and flossing
Show you and your child how to brush and floss.
Treatments for children
✓Fissure sealants
A thin protective coating on the grooves of back teeth to help prevent decay.
✓Fluoride
A varnish that helps strengthen enamel.
✓Fillings
Tooth-coloured fillings to repair decay in baby or adult teeth.
✓Dental injuries
Advice and treatment if your child chips or knocks out a tooth.
Looking after your child's teeth at home
- Start cleaning teeth as soon as they appear, with a soft brush.
- From 18 months, use a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children's toothpaste, unless we advise otherwise.
- Help your child brush until they're about eight.
- Limit sweet drinks and snacks, and offer tap water.
- Don't put babies to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.
Related reading: Preparing your child for their first dental visit. More tips: Children's dental care tips for healthy daily routines.
Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
Eligible children aged 0 to 17 may be able to access basic dental services through the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule, including check-ups, x-rays, cleans, fissure sealants, fillings and extractions. Benefits are capped over two consecutive calendar years. You can check your child's eligibility on our CDBS page.
We accept all private health funds, and you can claim on the spot with HICAPS. Parents can book their own check-up and clean around the same time.
More from our children's dentist in Toorak
Preparing your child for their visit
Children often take their cue from the adults around them, so keep the language simple and positive. You might read a picture book about visiting the dentist, play dentist at home by counting each other's teeth, or bring along a favourite toy. Try to book a time of day when your child is usually rested and fed, rather than close to nap time.
When you arrive, our team will introduce themselves to your child and explain what's going to happen in words they understand. We'll show them the chair, the light and the mirror before we start.
Teething
Most babies start teething at around six months, though it varies. Your baby may dribble more, want to chew on things and be a little unsettled. A clean, chilled teething ring or gently rubbing the gums with a clean finger can help. If your baby has a high fever or seems unwell, see your doctor, as these symptoms aren't usually caused by teething alone.
Thumb sucking and dummies
Thumb sucking and dummy use are common in young children and usually stop on their own. If the habit continues as adult teeth start to come through, it can affect how the teeth and jaws develop. We'll keep an eye on your child's teeth at each visit and give you practical tips if the habit seems to be causing changes.
Snacks, drinks and tooth decay
Tooth decay is common in young children, and much of it can be prevented. Frequent snacking and sipping on sweet drinks, including juice and flavoured milk, give bacteria more chances to produce acid. Offer tap water between meals, keep sweet foods to mealtimes and avoid sticky snacks that cling to teeth. Cheese, plain yoghurt and fresh fruit and vegetables are good options for snacks.
Baby teeth and adult teeth
Children usually have 20 baby teeth, and most have come through by about age three. Baby teeth help children chew, speak clearly and hold space for the adult teeth developing underneath. If baby teeth are lost early because of decay, nearby teeth can drift into the gap and the adult teeth may come through out of position. That's why our children's dentist in Toorak treats decay in baby teeth, even though they'll eventually fall out.
The first adult molars often come through behind the baby teeth at around six years of age, without a baby tooth falling out first. They can be hard to reach with a toothbrush, so fissure sealants may be recommended to help protect them.
Brushing tips by age
For babies and toddlers, clean teeth with a soft, small brush and water until 18 months, then use a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children's toothpaste unless we advise otherwise. Young children usually need an adult to brush for them, or to finish the job, until they're about eight. Standing behind your child and tilting their head back slightly can make it easier to see. Start cleaning between teeth when they touch.
Children with extra needs
If your child has additional needs, sensory sensitivities or a medical condition, let us know when you book. Our children's dentist in Toorak can allow extra time, plan a quieter appointment time and adapt how we explain each step, so the visit suits your child.
Protecting teeth during sport
If your child plays contact sport, a custom-fitted mouthguard can help protect their teeth. As children grow and new teeth come through, mouthguards may need to be remade, so we'll check the fit at their regular visits.
To book with our children's dentist in Toorak, book online or call (03) 9827 5633. Our clinic is at 137 Canterbury Road, Toorak VIC 3142.
Children's dentist in Toorak: common questions
Book your appointment
New and returning patients welcome at our Toorak clinic.
