From the first year of high school to age 18 dental care is provided by private dentists that are contracted by District Health Boards DHBs. Click here to find a provider near you. To enrol your child in a free dental service call TALK TEETH or for more information view the Ministry of Health Lets Talk Teeth website.

Note: Orthodontic care and tooth whitening is not free for under 18 year olds. Accidents are covered by ACC. The content on this page is largely based on the Ministry of Health webpage 'Publicly funded dental care'.

It has also been reproduced from the pregnancy and kids section of the Ministry of Health's website. This page last reviewed 29 April Do you have any feedback for KidsHealth? If you have any feedback about the KidsHealth website, or have a suggestion for new content, please get in touch with us.

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Skip to main content. Close main menu. KidsHealth NZ. Open main menu Close main menu. Search form. Hidden Submit Search. Dental Care For Your Child.

Key points about dental care for your child baby teeth need to be looked after and valued brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste oral healthcare is free for all tamariki until they turn 18 enrol your child with your local Community Oral Health Service Can my child get free dental care?

Basic dental care is free until your child is Acknowledgements The content on this page is largely based on the Ministry of Health webpage 'Publicly funded dental care'. Email us now. Print this page. Related Information Caring For Your Baby's Teeth.

Caring For Your Child's Teeth: 1 To 5 Years. Taking Your Child To Visit The Dentist. Teeth - Videos About Children's Oral Health Care.

Topics A-Z or. This can help to prevent tooth decay. The sealant will generally last for several years. A dentist or dental hygienist can top up or replace these sealants when needed. As your child develops you may be worried about the position or crowding of your child's teeth.

Your dentist will tell you if your child might benefit from having their teeth straightened orthodontic treatment. Braces are used for straightening teeth as part of orthodontic treatment. If your child needs to see a dental specialist called an orthodontist your dentist can refer you.

Your child may want to get braces for cosmetic reasons to improve appearance. This kind of treatment is normally only provided privately - this means you'll have to pay for it. Find a list of specialist orthodontists - dentalcouncil.

Orthodontic treatment and braces provided by the HSE. Your child can also get braces under the Cross Border Directive CBD scheme.

The CBD scheme allows you to get healthcare in another EU or EEA country. You need to meet certain criteria to get healthcare under the CBD. Orthodontic treatment under the CBD.

Page last reviewed: 22 February Next review due: 22 February Home Babies and children Parenting advice Caring for a child Back to Caring for a child. Warning notification: Warning Unfortunately, you are using an outdated browser.

The list of supported browsers: Chrome Edge FireFox Opera Safari. Dental treatment for your baby and child. Dental check-ups can help to identify dental problems early. Some dental treatments can help prevent tooth decay and erosion.

Others can fix damaged or decayed rotten teeth. Dental services for children under 16 The HSE offers some dental services free of charge to children up to the age of Routine dental treatment The HSE offers free a dental appointment to: all children in certain classes in primary school children with special needs A follow up appointment for preventative care or treatment will be made with your local HSE dental clinic, if needed.

Emergency dental care for children All children aged under 16 years of age are entitled to emergency treatment. First dentist appointment Take your baby to the dentist when their first teeth appear at around 6 months.

Injuries to baby teeth If your baby injures their mouth or teeth in a fall or accident, take them to a dentist to be checked. Dental check-ups Take your child for regular dental check-ups.

Kids can get free preventive and diagnostic dental services, meaning There will never be more than $ in out-of-pocket costs for each child's dental care National Children's Dental Health Month. Check out NIDCR's free resources on children's oral health Finding Low Cost Dental Care: Information for Caregivers Free Oral Health Education Resources. The best way to treat tooth decay is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Help children and their caregivers

Baby dental care freebies - Cavity Free Kids includes a rich collection of lessons, activities, stories, songs and other resources that actively engage young children in fun-filled, play- Kids can get free preventive and diagnostic dental services, meaning There will never be more than $ in out-of-pocket costs for each child's dental care National Children's Dental Health Month. Check out NIDCR's free resources on children's oral health Finding Low Cost Dental Care: Information for Caregivers Free Oral Health Education Resources. The best way to treat tooth decay is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Help children and their caregivers

Babies can be affected by tooth decay as soon as their first teeth arrive. The first signs of decay often appear as white spots or lines on the front teeth. Many babies begin teething at around 3 months old.

Their first teeth usually appear at around 6 to 9 months. By the age of 1, a baby will usually have around 8 teeth. But babies develop at different rates, so this can vary. You can buy toothpaste and small-headed toothbrushes, made especially for babies or children, at your local pharmacy or supermarket.

This is usually around the age of 7 years. Take your baby to visit the dentist as soon as their teeth begin to appear. This way, the dentist can check that their teeth are developing correctly.

Regular dental check-ups are important from the age of 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing. Always make a visit to the dentist a positive experience.

Never use the dentist as a threat for not brushing teeth or other behaviour. As your child's adult teeth grow through, make an appointment with the dentist if you notice any misalignment of the teeth or jaw.

They will advise whether corrective treatment is required. You can find your nearest dentist in the National Health Services Directory. About half of Australians visit the dentist every year.

The Australian Government covers the dental costs of some children through Medicare. You can check whether your child is eligible on the Child Dental Benefits Schedule website. Some people use private health insurance to pay some or all of their dental costs.

Most people with insurance will still have to pay some of the costs themselves. Health insurance that only covers hospital or ambulance does not pay for dental care. Costs vary widely between dentists. Dental care can be quite costly.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Read more on raisingchildren. au website. The dental care kids require varies greatly as they grow and develop.

This guide has been written to walk you through each stage of their journey. Read more on Teeth. Access the Child Dental Benefits Schedule through your local public dental clinic NSW.

All children receive the same high quality care regardless of CDBS eligibility. Read more on NSW Health website. The Australian Government's Child Dental Benefits Schedule CDBS helps cover the cost of your child's dental care.

Learn what's covered here. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule CDBS was introduced by the Federal Government to help children access dental care. Learn about tooth development in babies and children, brushing teeth, flossing, tooth decay, other dental problems and when to see a dentist.

The Australian Government works with state and territory governments to fund public dental services and improve dental health. Your child's health includes dental care, recognising when your child is unwell, has a serious illness and taking care when giving them medicine.

Most dental care in Australia is provided in private dental clinics. This article explains more about costs of treatment, and the difference between private and government dental care.

Read more on RACGP - The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners website. Are you a social worker, child life therapist, nurse, doctor or other health care professional working with kids and families impacted by cancer?

Read more on Camp Quality website. Advance care planning involves planning for your future health care and communicating your treatment preferences.

Read more on Advance Care Planning Australia website. Learn about your role and responsibilities in advance care planning as a health professional to support your patients' future health care preferences.

The National Asthma Council Australia today released a major update of its online Australian Asthma Handbook. Read more on National Asthma Council Australia website.

First Nations Australians are diverse peoples with a variety of histories, cultures, languages and experiences. In order to deliver appropriate and culturally competent care, it is essential to understand the care needs and health of First Nations peoples.

Read more on Ausmed Education website. Gradually start brushing your child's teeth more thoroughly, covering all the surfaces of the teeth.

Do it at least twice a day: just before bed and at another time that fits in with your routine. Not all children like having their teeth brushed, so you may have to keep trying. Make it into a game, or brush your own teeth at the same time and then help your child finish their own.

The easiest way to brush a baby's teeth is to sit them on your knee, with their head resting against your chest. With an older child, stand behind them and tilt their head backwards.

Brush the teeth in small circles, covering all the surfaces, and encourage your child to spit the toothpaste out afterwards. There's no need to rinse with water, as this will wash away the fluoride. Check to make sure your child gets the right amount of toothpaste and they're not eating or licking toothpaste from the tube.

Carry on helping your child brush their teeth until you're sure they can do it well enough themselves. This will normally be until they're at least 7. Taking your baby to the dentist Take your child with you when you go for your own dental appointments so they get used to the idea.

Sugar and tooth decay Sugar causes tooth decay. How to cut down sugar in your child's diet These tips will help you reduce the amount of sugar in your child's diet and prevent tooth decay: Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks — the best drinks for young children are plain milk and water.

It's OK to use bottles for expressed breast milk, formula milk, or cooled boiled water. But using them for juices or sugary drinks can increase tooth decay.

From 6 months old, you can offer babies drinks in a non-valved free-flowing cup. When your baby starts eating solid foods, encourage them to eat savoury food and drinks with no sugar.

Check if there's sugar in pre-prepared baby foods including the savoury ones , rusks and baby drinks. Read more about food labels. If you choose to give your child sweet foods or fruit juice, only give them at mealtimes.

Remember to dilute 1 part juice to 10 parts water. Your child should have no more than 1 drink of fruit juice ml in any 1 day as part of their 5 A Day. Don't give your child biscuits or sweets — ask family and friends to do the same.

Offer things like stickers, hair slides, crayons, colouring books and bubbles instead. They may be more expensive than sweets, but they last longer. At bedtime or during the night, only give your child breast milk, formula or cooled boiled water. If your child needs medicine, ask a pharmacist or GP if there's a sugar-free option.

Check your whole family's sugar intake — see how to cut down on sugar in your diet.

Baby dental care freebies - Cavity Free Kids includes a rich collection of lessons, activities, stories, songs and other resources that actively engage young children in fun-filled, play- Kids can get free preventive and diagnostic dental services, meaning There will never be more than $ in out-of-pocket costs for each child's dental care National Children's Dental Health Month. Check out NIDCR's free resources on children's oral health Finding Low Cost Dental Care: Information for Caregivers Free Oral Health Education Resources. The best way to treat tooth decay is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Help children and their caregivers

View Healthpoint in zero. nz to browse for free. From age 0 to Year 8 last year of intermediate school dental care is provided by dental therapists in a school or community dental clinic. Dental therapists provide routine dental care and oral health education to under 18 year olds. Procedures they may perform include delivering local anaesthetics, fillings, primary tooth extraction, professional cleans, fissure sealants and fluoride applications.

If care is beyond their scope of practice the dental therapist will refer to an appropriate dentist or specialist dentist. From the first year of high school to age 18 dental care is provided by private dentists that are contracted by District Health Boards DHBs.

Infants normally begin teething between four and six months of age. To ease these symptoms, give your infant a clean teething ring or cold wet washcloth.

Cold temperatures are soothing, so you may want to chill the teething ring. Remember, dental decay is an infectious transmissible disease.

Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils e. spoons , or cleaning a pacifier or a bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth.

These practices can help stop the transmission of bacteria that cause tooth decay cavities. Continue to clean your infant's gums after feeding. Once a tooth comes in, start to use a child's soft bristled toothbrush, with no toothpaste, in addition to massaging the gum tissues. To relieve the symptoms of teething, give your infant a clean teething ring or cold wet washcloth.

Begin to wean your baby from the bottle as your infant begins to eat more solid foods and drinks from a cup.

Gradually, begin to offer a cup for water or juice. By age 12 to 14 months, most children can drink from a cup. Promote healthy habits now by limiting the frequency and amount of sweetened beverages and foods you give your child.

Be familiar with the normal appearance of your child's gums and teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate dental decay cavities , schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.

Schedule your child's first dental appointment. If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to your pediatrician about infant fluoride supplements. If your child has not seen a dentist for their first dental exam, schedule an appointment.

Continue to take steps to avoid passing decay causing germs to your child. At age 2, begin brushing with a pea-sized amount small smear of fluoridated toothpaste.

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