Finding the right dental home for your kids is one of those parenting jobs that quietly matters more than it seems. The habits, attitudes, and check-up routines your children build in their early years follow them for life. If you're a family living in Perth's northern suburbs and searching for a trusted children's dentist Perth families can rely on, this guide walks you through everything you need to know from the ideal age for a first visit, to how the Child Dental Benefits Schedule can cover the cost, to what to look for in a local clinic.
When should my child first see the dentist?
This is the question almost every parent asks, and the answer surprises a lot of people. It is recommended that all children visit the dentist when the first tooth pushes through or by 12 months of age. The Australian Dental Association echoes this advice, recommending the first visit happen within six months of that first tooth appearing, and no later than the first birthday.
It might feel early to bring in a baby with only a tooth or two, but there's good reason for it. Taking a child to the dentist early and when there are no problems with their teeth allows them to get to know their dentist, have a positive experience and make future visits more familiar. Early visits aren't really about drilling and filling they're about prevention, monitoring development, and giving you, the parent, tailored advice on brushing, feeding, and habits.
After that first appointment, regular reviews keep things on track. All children should visit the dentist regularly (every six to 12 months) for a check-up, even if they don't appear to have any problems. If you'd like to understand more about building a sensible check-up rhythm for the whole family, our guide on how often you should really visit the dentist breaks it down.
Why baby teeth matter more than you think
It's tempting to think baby teeth don't count because they eventually fall out but they do a lot of heavy lifting. Baby teeth are essential for chewing, speaking clearly, and guiding adult teeth into the correct position. Looking after them well sets the tone for a healthy adult smile.
Early decay is also far more common than parents expect. One in four Australian children aged 5 to 10 has untreated decay in their baby teeth according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The reassuring news is that most of this is preventable with good home care and regular professional check-ups. Tooth decay can develop soon after baby teeth appear. Early childhood tooth decay prevention includes good brushing habits, fluoride toothpaste, and regular dental check-ups.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS): free dental for eligible kids
For many families, cost is the biggest barrier to regular dental care and this is exactly where the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) helps. It's one of the most valuable and most underused supports available to Australian parents.
Here's how it works:
Who it's for: The CDBS provides basic dental services to eligible children aged 0 to 17 years.
How much it covers: The CDBS caps dental services at $1,158 over 2 consecutive calendar years. The cap amount is indexed yearly on 1 January.
Eligibility: To qualify, your child must be aged 0–17 for at least one day of the calendar year, be eligible for Medicare on the day of service, and get, or be part of a family getting, certain Australian Government payments such as Family Tax Benefit Part A.
How you find out: You will automatically get a letter to let you know if your child is eligible for the CDBS. You can also see if they are eligible in your myGov account.
The schedule covers a genuinely useful range of treatments. CDBS covers a wide range of basic dental services that children need most. These include routine examinations, X-rays, scale and cleans, fluoride treatments, and fissure seals to protect molars. It also covers fillings, simple root canal treatment on baby and adult teeth, and extractions where needed.
It's worth knowing what's not included so you can plan ahead. The CDBS doesn't cover orthodontic, cosmetic dental work or dental services provided in hospital.
A couple of practical tips: it is recommended that you check the benefit cap balance at each visit, and because patients can't carry any unused portions remaining at the end of the two-year period through to the next period, it pays to use the benefit steadily prioritising preventive check-ups, cleans, and fissure seals rather than letting it lapse.
What happens at a child's first visit
If you're picturing a stressful ordeal, relax. A first appointment for a young child is gentle and low-key. The first dental visit for children is usually short. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist and staff in a very friendly way. Sometimes the parent may be asked to sit in the dental chair and 'go for a ride in the chair' and then stay whilst their child has their dental examination.
A few ways to set your child up for success:
Keep your language positive. Children pick up on your tone, so avoid words like "needle," "pain," or "scared," and frame the visit as an adventure.
Stay close. Sitting nearby, holding their hand, or offering reassurance during the appointment helps build trust and keeps things calm.
Lead by example. Letting your child tag along to your own check-up first helps the dental environment feel normal and familiar.
Good habits to build at home
Professional care is only half the picture daily routines at home do the rest. The current guidance is clear and easy to follow:
Children should brush their teeth twice a day, using toothpaste containing fluoride, from 18 months of age (with low-fluoride children's toothpaste appropriate for younger kids).
Parents should help with brushing until children have the skills to brush effectively on their own.
The main drink for children should be tap water avoid sugary foods and drinks.
For kids in contact sports, it is especially important to wear custom fitted mouthguards.
You can read more about preventive treatments and what to expect from regular care on our children's dentistry treatment page.
Choosing a children's dentist in Perth's northern suburbs
When you're comparing a kids dentist Perth north families recommend, look for a clinic that treats children of all ages, takes a gentle and unhurried approach, participates in the CDBS, and is conveniently located for repeat visits. A genuinely family-friendly practice will focus as much on making your child comfortable as on the clinical work itself.
Featured clinic: Hocking Dental Care
For families in the City of Wanneroo and surrounds, Hocking Dental Care is a strong option to consider. It's a family-owned dental clinic located in Hocking, within the City of Wanneroo, Perth, dedicated to providing high-quality dental services for patients of all ages. The practice serves the community of Hocking and surrounds including Wanneroo, Sinagra, Pearsall, Darch, Landsdale, Gnangara, Tapping, Wangara and the wider Perth area.
Children's dentistry is a particular focus here. Hocking Dental Care offers comprehensive examinations for children. These check-ups involve checking children for tooth decay, examining their bite, and looking for potential oral issues such as gum and jaw problems. They also give the opportunity to discuss any dental developmental issues a child may be facing, and to educate parents about the importance of maintaining their children's dental care to avoid serious problems in the future.
The clinic also supports families when accidents happen. Their dental care for children includes assistance with a range of traumas and emergencies, including knocked out teeth, chipped teeth, root fractures, and more all provided in a friendly and welcoming environment that is free of unnecessary stress and anxiety. For active kids, the team can provide professional dental care for children of all ages, provide custom mouthguards, and are committed to educating about how to maintain dental hygiene and encourage good dental habits.
In keeping with best-practice prevention, they recommend organising examinations every six months to monitor the development of your child's teeth, which also helps build up the comfort and confidence your child feels when visiting the dentist. And parents nervous about their little one's reaction can take heart from the practice's track record one family noted that the dentist was so good with their 5-year-old who is especially scared of dentists, taking the time to make her feel comfortable and explaining everything so she knew what was going to happen.
You can learn more about the practice and its location on the Hocking clinic profile.
Ready to book?
Establishing a positive dental routine early is one of the best gifts you can give your child—and with the CDBS, it may cost your family nothing at all. If your child is due for a first visit or an overdue check-up, you can book an appointment online in just a couple of minutes.
Healthy smiles really do start from the very first tooth so there's no better time to get started than now.
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This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a dental professional. CDBS eligibility and benefit caps are set by the Australian Government and updated annually—always confirm current details via myGov or Services Australia.
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