Children's dentistry
Taking your child to the dentist in Ipswich
We see children as soon as their first teeth appear. The earlier they start, the more ordinary the dentist feels to them.
The easiest start is to bring them along to your own check-up. Call reception to ask about a first appointment for your child.
The first visit
Your child's first visit
A good first visit is one where nothing needs doing.
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Come along to your check-up
Ask whether your child can sit in on your appointment to see the room and meet the team.
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They can sit on your knee
Small children can often sit on a parent's or carer's knee during the appointment.
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A quick first check
We count their teeth, have a look round and talk with you about brushing.
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A sticker on the way out
We offer a sticker at the end of the visit.
Some children are not ready to open their mouth at the first visit. That is fine. Meeting the team still counts, and we will agree with you when to bring them back.
Check-ups
What we are looking at
A child's check-up looks at how the teeth and jaw are growing as well as whether anything needs treating.
Most children come every six months. Your dentist will say if yours should come more or less often.
If anything needs treating, we explain it to you and your child in words they can understand, and you decide together what happens next.
At a child's check-up
- The teeth that have come through, and whether any are starting to decay
- How the adult teeth are coming in behind the baby ones
- The gums, and whether brushing is reaching everywhere
- How they bite together as the jaw grows
- Brushing, and what is being drunk between meals
Before you come
Three things that help a nervous child
How you talk about the dentist at home makes a big difference to how your child feels.
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Talk about it as something ordinary
Describe the visit simply: the dentist will count their teeth and the chair moves up and down. If they ask whether it will hurt, tell them the dentist will show them everything first.
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Skip the big reward
A big treat promised beforehand tells a child the visit is a big deal. Keep it calm and matter-of-fact.
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Let them do the talking
Encourage your child to ask questions and tell us about their brushing. Talking about their own routine helps them relax.
Common questions
Questions parents ask
The things people ring up about before they book.
When should my child first see a dentist?
As soon as their first teeth appear. The first visit is short: we check their teeth and they get to know the room and the team.
Is dental treatment free for children?
NHS dental treatment is free for eligible children. Children of our private patients may be seen under the NHS, subject to availability and practice capacity. Private cosmetic treatment is charged separately. Ask reception about your child's appointment when you call.
How often should they come?
Usually every six months, though your dentist will say if yours should be seen more or less often than that.
My child is frightened. What can you do?
Tell us when you book, and tell us too if they have had a difficult visit before or have additional needs. We allow more time, show them what we will use and work at a pace your child can manage.
My child has knocked a tooth out. What do I do?
Call us immediately, or contact NHS 111 if we are closed. Hold a knocked-out adult tooth by the crown, not the root. Keep it in milk while you seek urgent dental care. Do not put a baby tooth back, as this may damage the developing adult tooth.
Book your child in
Ring reception and ask about a first appointment for your child, or send the form and we will come back to you. We are at 51 Berners Street in central Ipswich. If your child is in pain today, ring rather than send the form.