Your Friendly Children's Dentist

Children need to be introduced to oral health and dentistry in a relaxed and reassuring manner in order to promote a life-long commitment to their teeth.

Sparkling Dental located in Neutral Bay, Sydney are passionately committed to providing relaxed, careful and gentle dental treatment to all of their clients, regardless of age, but we do hold a specific dedication to ensuring our younger patients feel comfortable in our practice and with us. Each of our dentists are particularly educated in children’s dentistry and on the best ways of communicating and reassuring children undergoing dental treatments.

We also provide a specific children’s area with heaps of toys, books and games. There is even a PlayStation to keep them entertained while their parents are being treated. We believe that promoting a fun atmosphere helps children to feel comfortable when they visit us, making any procedures they may need much easier to manage.

Sparkling Dental encourage regular dental check-ups for children from the age of 2 years in order to effectively preserve their original teeth, familiarise them with our practice and staff, and to promote positive experiences at the dentist.

Birth to 3 Years Old: Primary (or baby) teeth are critically important for jaw growth, appearance, eating well, proper positioning of adult teeth and speech.

In this age group, we assess several factors to ensure normal development. Tongue position and breathing style can be assessed to reduce the risk of future orthodontic problems.

The type of food children eat and their sleeping habits (particularly snoring) also play a large part in jaw development and the health of their teeth.

Six to 12 Years Old: Children in this age group experience the loss of their primary teeth, replaced by their permanent, adult teeth. Sometimes permanent teeth are discoloured or weakened. It is important to identify this at an early stage to support the developing teeth as best as possible.

Orthodontics For Kids

Orthodontics is the science of straightening crooked teeth and misaligned bites.

Modern orthodontic treatments start with early intervention for young children in which jaw size, tongue posture and breathing style is assessed.
Early orthodontic treatment will allow us the chance to:

  • Reduce the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
  • Correct oral habits like thumb sucking
  • Create room to allow permanent teeth to come through into a more favourable position
  • Guide the growth of the jaw to create facial symmetry and harmony
  • Reduce the chance that teeth will be required to be extracted as a child grows older
  • Reduce treatment time when older
  • Prevent more serious problems developing

Straightening teeth is only part of the story. To develop straight teeth and an attractive face, there needs to be harmony and balance within the muscles and the jaw bones. Early intervention often ensures a beautiful smile and a well proportioned face.

We follow the recommendations outlined by the Australian Society of Orthodontics that every child should have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven.

Here are some of the signs to watch out for when determining whether your child may need an orthodontic assessment:

  • Breathing through the mouth
  • Losing primary teeth very early or late
  • Teeth grinding
  • Frequent cheek biting
  • Thumb sucking
  • Difficulty chewing food or a fussy eater
  • Front teeth are crowded
  • A speech impediment
  • The teeth do not meet properly or at all

Dr Sandra Pedram