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First dental visits in Lansvale

Your Child's First
Dental Visit

A child's first dental visit should feel like meeting a friend

A child's first dental visit is mainly about getting to know us. At Odontologie Dental Care in Lansvale we keep that first appointment short and gentle, let your little one explore before we look at anything, and spend most of the time answering your questions about teething, brushing and bottles. The aim is simple: a toddler who leaves happy and is curious, not worried, about coming back.

Book by the first birthday, or once the first tooth appears
Short visits at your child's pace, with you in the room
CDBS accepted for eligible children

Book an Appointment (02) 9725 6241

New patients welcome

New to Odontologie?

Book our new patient offer today to receive:

Comprehensive Dental Examination
Scale, Clean and Polish
2x Bitewing X-rays (if required)
Fluoride Treatment

Book New Patient Offer (02) 9725 6241

*Must be quoted at the time of phone booking. If not quoted, the full fee may apply. Offer is only available with selected dentists. If booked with a non-selected dentist, a member of staff will contact you.

$249 Check-Up and Clean Select “New Patient Offer” when booking.

The receptionist waves to a baby as his father books his first dental visit

When to book

When should my child first see a dentist?

Plan the first visit when the first tooth comes through, or by your child's first birthday at the latest. That can sound early, but baby teeth can start to decay not long after they appear, particularly when a toddler falls asleep with a bottle or snacks often through the day. A quick look at that age lets our children's dentists pick up early warning signs and lets you ask questions while habits are still forming.

There is a second reason to come early. A child who first meets the dentist when nothing is wrong learns that the dental chair is an ordinary, even fun, place. That makes it far easier if they ever need a filling or have a knock to a tooth later on. Families visit our Hume Highway practice from Lansvale, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Chipping Norton, and Saturday mornings are a popular time for a first visit.

The bright Odontologie waiting lounge with a leather sofa, plants and tall windows

Getting ready

How to prepare your toddler

Pick a good time. Choose a slot when your child is usually fed and rested, rather than just before a nap.
Use easy words. Say the dentist is going to "count your teeth" and "check they are strong". Skip words like hurt, needle or drill, even to reassure.
Play it out at home. Take turns counting each other's teeth with a toothbrush, or check the teeth of a favourite toy.
Read about it. A picture book or short cartoon about a visit to the dentist makes the real thing feel familiar.
Bring comfort. A teddy or blanket can sit on the chair too. Arrive a few minutes early so nobody feels rushed.
Mind your own nerves. Children notice how parents feel. If dental visits worry you, tell us quietly and let us lead.

A father brushes his toddler's teeth with the child lying in his lap

Between visits

Caring for baby teeth at home

Brush from the first tooth. Twice a day with a soft, small-headed brush. Use water only until 18 months unless the dentist advises otherwise, then a pea-sized smear of low-fluoride children's toothpaste.
Floss when teeth touch. For most children this is from about two or three.
Choose kind drinks. Water and plain milk are the kindest choices for teeth. Put your child to bed without a bottle of milk or juice.
Keep sweets to meals. Grazing on sweet or sticky food keeps teeth under attack for longer.
Ease off dummies. Gently wind back dummies and thumb sucking by about four, to give the bite room to develop.

When the first adult molars appear at around six, we may suggest fissure sealants to protect their deep grooves.

A mother hands over a card at reception while her daughter peeks over the counter

CDBS

Is the first visit covered by the CDBS?

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is an Australian Government scheme, through Medicare, that helps eligible families with basic dental care for their children, including check-ups and cleans, X-rays and fillings. A child usually qualifies when they are eligible for Medicare and the family receives a payment such as Family Tax Benefit Part A.

Odontologie accepts the CDBS, and in most cases we can bulk bill covered services, so a first visit for an eligible child usually costs little or nothing. Call our front desk and we can check your child's eligibility before you come in. If your child is not eligible, we accept all major health funds.

How it works

What happens at a child's first dental visit

Most first visits take 15 to 30 minutes, and nothing happens until your child is ready.

Hello and a look around

We introduce ourselves, show your child the chair, the light and the little mirror, and explain everything in words a toddler understands.

Counting teeth

Babies often stay on your lap, knee to knee with the dentist. We look at the teeth, gums and bite, checking for early decay and how new teeth are arriving.

A quick polish, if they like

A confident toddler may enjoy a gentle polish. If they would rather not, that can easily wait for the next visit.

Advice and questions

We show you how to brush at this age, how much toothpaste to use and which snacks are kindest, and talk through teething, dummies or anything else on your mind.

Related care

Care for growing smiles

After the first visit, these are the services most families use as their children grow up.

Children's dentist

Regular check-ups, cleans and fillings for kids of every age, from toddlers to teenagers.

Learn more

Preventative care

Fluoride, home-care coaching and diet advice to keep decay away as the adult teeth arrive.

Learn more

Fissure sealants

A protective coating for the grooves of new back teeth, usually from about the age of six.

Learn more

Sports mouthguards

Mouthguards made from a mould of your child's teeth, for school sport and weekend games.

Learn more

Good to know

Child's First Dental Visit - frequently asked

When should my child first see a dentist?

When the first tooth appears, or by the first birthday, whichever comes first. At that age the visit is mostly about getting familiar with the dentist and checking that the teeth are coming through normally, and it gives you a chance to ask about teething and brushing.

What happens at the first visit?

Your child sits on your lap or in the chair while the dentist gently looks at their teeth and gums. If they are comfortable, we may polish a few teeth. Then we show you how to brush for their age and answer your questions. A visit where your child simply meets us and rides the chair still counts as a success.

How do I prepare my child?

Keep it positive and simple: the dentist will count their teeth and help keep them strong. Read a book about the dentist, play dentist at home with a toy and choose a time of day when your child is usually cheerful. Try to keep your own worries out of the conversation.

Is the first visit covered by the CDBS?

For an eligible child it usually is. Odontologie accepts the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and in most cases we can bulk bill covered services. Our front desk can check your child's eligibility before the appointment.

How long does a first appointment take?

Around 15 to 30 minutes. We keep it short so it finishes while your child is still happy, which makes the next visit easier for everyone.

What if my child cries or will not open their mouth?

That happens a lot and it is completely fine. We never force a child or rush them. Some first visits end up as a ride in the chair and a friendly hello, and that is a perfectly good start for next time.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed. Book online at any time or call (02) 9725 6241 during opening hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

What if my toddler hurts a tooth before the first visit?

Call us as soon as you can. Knocks, chips and swelling in young children are seen as a priority. If a baby tooth is knocked out, do not try to put it back in. Our emergency dentist page has more first-aid steps.

Your next step

Book a gentle first visit

Choose a time when your little one is fed and rested, bring a favourite toy, and our Lansvale team will take it from there. Book online or call (02) 9725 6241, and ask us to check CDBS eligibility.

Book an Appointment (02) 9725 6241