Question 1

What does an initial appointment look like?

Accepted Answer

You book a time that's convenient for you where I can come to your home and spend about an hour with you and your child having a thorough assessment. Please pick a time that you won’t be rushed and your child is generally happy (i.e. not nap time or lunch time!)

I'll send out a lengthy questionnaire before the appointment and will then go through it in depth with you. We'll address your main concerns and then conduct a full examination. I'll go through oral hygiene with you and your child as well as some dietary tips and tricks and then for those who need or want it we can finish with a clean to get those pearly whites super sparkly.

For those needing a myofunctional assessment I will return for a second visit to do a full functional evaluation and develop an individualised program to suit your needs.

Question 2

What happens if my child needs an x-ray or a filling?

Accepted Answer

Whilst being mobile provides some wonderful benefits it also comes with some limitations. At this stage I don't have the ability to take any radiographs for your child if required. If there is something that I think warrants an x-ray or if I see some cavities then you have a couple of options.

⭐️ Option 1 is that I can refer you to your local, child friendly dentist along with a full report outlining my findings and concerns.

⭐️ Option 2 is if you would prefer to keep continuity of care and stay with Bec then she is more than happy to see you at her "brick and mortar" clinic in Duncraig to carry out the treatment.

⭐️ Option 3 is for patients who may not yet be able to tolerate having dental treatment in the chair or where the treatment required is too extensive to be carried out in the dental chair, a referral to a paediatric dentist of your choice will be organised for you. After the treatment has been carried out you are more than welcome to come back to my care for your regular maintenance visits.

Question 3

What is a good age to start dental home visits?

Accepted Answer

The Australian Dental Association recommends dental visits start within six months of their first tooth appearing, and no later than their first birthday. This may seem a little extreme at first or you may be thinking "my baby only has one tooth!" There are so many things that we can discuss at that first visit, from teething to breastfeeding, bottle feeding, transition to solids, baby led weaning, dummies, sleep concerns (yes this can be related to dental issues!), how to care for your baby’s precious new teeth, grinding problems (yes, some babies grind!) and the list goes on. Not only the education side of it for you but getting your baby familiar with my face, having them get used to me being in their mouths and me being able to begin that fun and trusting rapport is all so important to set them up for a fantastic start to their lifelong dental visits.

Question 4

What if my child is scared of the dentist?

Accepted Answer

In my time working in a clinic full time before I had my own kids, this was my favourite type of patient. The one where the notes said something like "Mum says child is very anxious". This is because it is sooooooooooooooo rewarding for me to be able to help a child overcome any anxieties about the dentist. These kids can sometimes require an extra appointment for some gentle desensitisation or some extra time to warm up but that's when the magic happens! I'll tell a funny dental joke or let them check my teeth with their own dental mirror or we'll make some glove balloons and suddenly we're all best friends and I'm getting invited to birthday parties! (true story) This is the best part about being mobile and allocating so much time for each family, I have the luxury to be able to spend the time and build those relationships. This is what's important to me. Of course, I don't perform magic and some children will require some modified assessments but especially for little ones, most can be done laying on Mum or Dad's lap. It also helps that I do give out "thank you for letting me count your teeth" prizes.

Question 5

Do you treat adults?

Accepted Answer

No, Developmental Dental has been specially designed to cater to 0-to-6-year olds. However, I am happy to see older children and adolescents (up to 18 years) on request.

Question 6

Can I claim for your services on private health or Medicare?

Accepted Answer

Eligible patients may use the Child Dental Benefit Schedule to claim for eligible services up to their cap.

Some private health funds will offer a rebate for my services. Please check with your health fund as they will differ based on insurer and your level of cover.

** Please note that myofunctional therapy, myofunctional evaluations and travel fees are not claimable through Medicare or Private Health Insurance.

Question 7

Why do you screen my child's airway, can’t our GP do that?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they can! How often do you visit your GP though? Only when you’re sick, right? Our wonderful GP's, whilst absolutely essential to any child's holistic care team are so incredibly busy, and usually when we visit our doctor, we explain our current issue, we get some advice or medication and then we don't see them again until the next time we are unwell. Our GP's just don't always have the luxury to spend that time. Dental professionals are PERFECTLY placed to assess your child's airway! We see your child every 6 months and are easily able to monitor their growth and development. We are looking in their mouth at each visit and this can lead to early identification of tongue restrictions, high palates, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, crowded teeth, enlarged tonsils, congestion, nasal asymmetry, the list goes on. If any of these flags are identified we will ask about sleep quality, breathing preferences, behaviour, bedwetting, snoring, schooling etc and we will start to develop a holistic picture of what's going on for your child.

Empowering families with education, awareness and strategies to achieve functional, healthy, beautiful smiles.

Empowering families with education, awareness and strategies to achieve functional, healthy, beautiful smiles.