Good oral health begins early — and at Aspire One Dental in Kew, we believe every child deserves a positive, nurturing start to their dental journey. As a family-focused clinic conveniently located on High Street in Kew, we serve families throughout Kew, Kew East, Hawthorn, Balwyn, Ivanhoe, Alphington, Canterbury, Deepdene and beyond. Whether you’re bringing in toddlers, school children, teens or adults, our philosophy is simple: create a warm, fun, and trustworthy environment where dental visits become something your children look forward to, not fear.
In this guide, you’ll find everything parents need to know about children’s dentistry: how to prepare for first visits, preventive care, common treatments, special programs, and why Aspire One Dental is uniquely suited to care for your family’s smiles.
Why Children’s Dentistry Matters
Children’s dental care is different from adult dentistry in many ways. Baby teeth set the stage for permanent teeth; early habits influence future dental health; and kids’ minds and emotions require a gentler approach. By investing in early preventive care, you reduce the risk of decay, misalignment, and dental anxiety down the road.
Research shows that untreated decay in children can affect their speech, eating, school attendance, and overall well-being. That’s why we emphasise preventive practices — cleanings, fluoride, sealants, dietary counselling, long before an issue becomes serious.
What to Expect at Your Child’s First Visit
Bringing a child to the dentist for the first time can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. At Aspire One Dental:
- We often begin seeing kids as early as one year of age or within six months of the first tooth erupting, depending on readiness.
- The first visit is more about familiarisation than treatments. We focus on building trust: letting the child explore, pushing buttons, trying on gloves, squirting air/water instruments in demonstration.
We explain procedures using gentle, nonfrightening language, no “needle,” “drill,” or “pull.”
- If your child is ready, we may perform a cleaning and a simple examination, but there’s no pressure to do more than what feels comfortable.
- We teach parents and children homecare techniques (brushing, flossing), basic nutrition advice, and guidance on pacifier use, thumb-sucking, and more.
Our goal: the first visit should be fun, gentle, and confidence-building.
Preventive Care: What Children Need as They Grow
To keep little smiles healthy, regular preventive care is essential. Here are the core components and how we manage them at Aspire One:
- Routine Check-ups & Cleanings (every 6 months)
These visits allow us to monitor growth, detect early signs of decay, clean away plaque, polish teeth, and polish properly. Fluoride Treatments & Remineralisation
Fluoride strengthens enamel, making it more resistant to decay — especially important for young and newly erupted teeth.Fissure Sealants
For molars with deep pits and grooves, we may recommend sealants to “seal off” vulnerable surfaces from decay-causing bacteria.Dietary & Oral Hygiene Education
We counsel families on limiting sugary or acidic snacks, encouraging water, and proper brushing/flossing habits.Interceptive Orthodontic Monitoring
As your child grows, we monitor jaw development and spacing so that if early intervention is needed (e.g., guiding growth, managing crowding), we can act proactively.Habit Management
Thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use or tongue thrusting can alter dental development. We help with strategies and guidance to manage or stop such habits.
Common Children’s Dental Treatments
When inevitable dental issues arise despite best care, we treat them gently and compassionately. Some common treatments include:
- Fillings & Restorations
For cavities, we use tooth-coloured materials and aim for minimal invasiveness to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible. - Pulp Therapy (Baby Tooth Root Treatments)
If decay reaches the nerve in primary teeth, a pulpotomy or pulpectomy can sometimes preserve the tooth until natural shedding. - Extractions
In rare cases where a baby tooth is non-restorable, we may extract it. We do so with care and will discuss space maintenance if needed. - Orthodontic Assessments
Around ages 7–9, we often perform early orthodontic evaluations to detect growth or alignment concerns — and coordinate referrals or conservative interceptive treatments if needed. - Mouthguards & Sports Protection
We help young athletes with custom mouthguards to protect against sports-related dental injuries.
Aspire One Dental’s Family-Centered Difference
What sets Aspire One Dental apart for families?
Kid-Friendly Clinician Approach
Peter, our principal dentist and a dad himself, has a special gift for making children feel safe, engaged, and relaxed. He infuses playfulness, patience, and empathy into every interaction.Comfort-First Environment
We know anxiety is real — that’s why our clinic features ceiling-mounted Netflix screens, noise-cancelling headsets, and a calm, welcoming ambience. Relaxed kids make for better visits.Convenience for Busy Families
Located right on Kew High Street, we’re within walking distance of many schools. We also offer after-school appointment slots until 5:30 pm — perfect for scheduling around school pickups and activities.Comprehensive Family Care Under One Roof
Whether your teen needs a check-up or your younger child needs a filling, we provide general, restorative, and preventive services all in one practice. You don’t have to chase specialists elsewhere.Support Through CDBS
We welcome eligible children under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). Learn more about CDBS and eligibility here.
(This helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for families needing basic dental care.)
Tips for Parents: Maximising Your Child’s Dental Health
Start dental visits early and maintain consistency — avoid gaps of more than 6 months between check-ups.
Make brushing and flossing a fun, consistent routine at home. Use timers, songs, or rewards to motivate.
Limit sugary snacks and drinks, especially between meals. Encourage water and crunchy vegetables.
Be a role model — children follow your habits. Let them watch you brush and floss.
Prepare your child for the visit — talk about the dentist using positive, neutral language.
Communicate fears or past traumatic experiences — we’re here to tailor visits to your child’s comfort level.
When to Seek Dental Help Immediately
If your child experiences dental trauma (a knocked-out or chipped tooth), sudden pain, swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection (e.g. abscess), contact us immediately. We prioritise same-day emergency care for children whenever possible.
How to Get Started with Aspire One Dental
Book a New Patient Appointment — Simple online booking or call us at (03) 9347 3003.
First Visit — Warm welcome, initial discussion, gentle explorations, and acclimatisation.
Tailored Plan — Based on your child’s dental health and age, we recommend preventive steps and schedule follow-ups.
Long-Term Partnership — We guide you and your child through all the growing stages: primary teeth, mixed dentition, orthodontic monitoring, teenage care, and beyond.
By building trust, introducing care gently, and making visits fun, we hope your children grow into confident adults who value their dental health. At Aspire One Dental, we’re proud to be part of your child’s lifelong smile journey.