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At Dentist Mandy in Bondi, we love caring for the little ones. Each appointment is about having them arrive and leave with a big healthy smile.
We treat our newbie patients like VIP guests. We like to speak with them about what we do, why dental health is important and always ask if there’s anything that is going to make them happier in the dentist environment. Maybe they’d like to hold onto their favourite toy during the consultation or like to have a favourite song playing in the background.
Generally, we like to take a closer look at their mouths, so they will be in the chair, lying down comfortably and may be given some cool glasses to wear. We may choose to clean their teeth or recommend X Rays. Every child is different, so we assess what they will be comfortable doing, without making the experience overwhelming in any way.
Some do’s and don’ts for your child’s first visit to the dentist
The best thing here is not to stress yourself or your little one about their first visit.
Here are a couple of great tips we’ve picked up along the way:
DO make them feel like this is an exciting experience. Speak about how friendly the dentist is. How much fun it is to take a ride in the dentist’s chair and the amazing technology.
DO talk to them about why we have teeth, what they do for us and how to keep them healthy.
DO tell them that they are visiting the dentist to make sure that their teeth are healthy. Make the dentist visit part of an overall great dental care plan
DON’T tell them “not to be scared’. This may cause them to be afraid anyway!
DON’T tell them that the dentist is looking for problems with their teeth. Explaining root canals or fillings might be a little too much for them to process. Talking about these kinds of procedures may cause them to worry over dental procedures they may never need.
DON’T offer bribes for dentist visits as it makes children believe this is an exercise which they won’t enjoy.
It’s a question we get asked almost every day at Dentist Mandy. The answer might surprise you. In an ideal world, once your baby’s first tooth has appeared or when they turn 1 year old. In fact, whichever event comes first signals that it’s time to come and see us.
However, we do often state that if you exercise proper oral and dental care for your child, you could come and visit us when they are about 4.
For most people, there is a perception that dentistry is only about teeth. In fact, our job is to look after your entire mouth. This is why we encourage you to bring your little ones in to our Bondi surgery because dentistry is about a holistic approach to oral issues, not just teeth!
Just as it is with us adults, it’s best to make regular scheduled visits to us here at Dentist Mandy. This means 6 monthly appointments to make sure that your oral health is of a great standard. We know through our experience with children’s dental care that prevention is better than cure, so it’s best to keep up regular appointments for your child.
We are general dentists who provide a wide range of dental treatment to children, and we strive to make your child’s visit to the dentist as much fun and as pleasurable as possible! Our rooms are bright, friendly and welcoming – as are our team of professionals. Our experience in children’s dentistry is vast and we enjoy being an important part of your child’s dental journey.
Specialised paediatric dentistry does focus on the development of your child’s teeth and whilst this is important should complex problems arise, regular dental checks with a friendly dentist such as ourselves is always a great first step before the expense of a paediatric dentist.
In most cases, if we identify a complex issue with your child’s dental development, we can recommend paediatric dentists who we know will provide the best level of care.
Just like any other aspect of your child’s health, it’s important to be as informed as possible.
Take the time to investigate how children’s teeth develop and the stage your child should be at with “baby teeth” prior to your visit. Before any visit to the dentist with your child, take note of their oral hygiene routine, any problems that have arisen (sore tooth, bleeding gums, chipped teeth), tooth sensitivity and the rates of loss of baby teeth.
A quick chat with your child well before each appointment might reveal some information which helps us to assess their dental health.
We love helping children to understand the importance of good dental care and to make their dentists experiences as much fun and as comfortable as possible. If you’d like to chat with us about any specific requirements your child may have before their appointment, we’re always happy to hear from you to see if we can assist!