Three Generations of Duncraig Families in One Practice

01

At what age should we think about braces?

The useful assessment is around age eight or nine, well before most people expect. That is not when treatment starts — it is when we can see whether the adult teeth have room to come through, whether there is a crossbite, and whether the jaws are growing evenly. Some problems are much easier to fix while a child is still growing, and a small intervention at nine can avoid extractions at fourteen. Most children still have their main orthodontic treatment between twelve and fourteen. We will tell you at a normal check-up whether an orthodontic referral is worth making.

02

What is a fissure sealant and does my child actually need one?

The first adult molars arrive at about age six, right at the back, and their chewing surfaces have deep narrow grooves that a toothbrush bristle physically cannot reach into. Sealant is a thin flowable resin painted into those grooves to close them off. It takes a few minutes per tooth, requires no drilling and no anaesthetic, and dramatically reduces decay in exactly the teeth that get it most. For a child with deep grooves it is one of the highest-value things in dentistry. For a child with shallow, easily cleaned grooves it may not be necessary — we will tell you which yours has.

03

My teenager's wisdom teeth showed on an x-ray. Do they have to come out?

Not automatically, and the routine removal of every wisdom tooth is no longer standard practice. What matters is whether they have room to come through upright and be cleaned, or whether they are angled into the tooth in front, partially erupted and trapping food, or repeatedly getting infected. We monitor them on x-ray through the late teens. If they are causing trouble or clearly heading that way, we refer for removal — usually easier at eighteen than at thirty-five, when the roots are fully formed and the bone is denser.

04

Can we get after-school appointments?

Yes, and they are the first slots to go, so book at the start of term rather than the week you need them. The 3:30pm to 5:00pm window fills up quickly across the whole northern suburbs. Two practical alternatives: an 8:00am appointment before school costs a child less lost class time than a mid-afternoon one, and school holidays are much easier to book into if you can plan ahead.

05

My child is frightened of the dentist after a bad experience. What can you do?

First, tell us before the appointment, not in the waiting room. We will book a longer slot and do nothing invasive at the first visit — a ride in the chair, a look with the mirror, and that is it. The single most effective thing is that the child leaves having had a positive experience with no surprises. It also helps enormously if the adults avoid words like hurt, needle and drill in the lead-up, including reassurances like it will not hurt, which children hear as a warning. If the fear is severe and treatment is genuinely needed, we can discuss referral options for sedation.

06

I have not been in years because I was always paying for the kids. Where do I start?

With a full examination and a set of x-rays, so we both know the actual position rather than guessing. From there you get a written plan with everything on it, prioritised: what is causing damage now, what will cause damage within a year, and what can reasonably wait. Then you choose the pace. It is completely normal for adults to stage treatment over eighteen months across two health fund calendar years, and we will help you sequence it that way if that is what makes it possible.

07

Do you do the free school dental check?

The WA School Dental Service is a separate government programme delivered through its own clinics and mobile vans, not through private practices, so no. It is a good service for basic screening and care. Where families use us alongside it is for anything time-critical — a knock at sport, pain in the holidays — and for anything outside its scope, such as orthodontic assessment. If your child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, that is a different scheme and it can be used here.

Four people needing check-ups in the same month is a real expense. These are the levers that exist.

• HICAPS claiming on the spot — pay the gap only
• Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible children aged 0–17
• Written plans with item numbers so you can pre-check rebates
• Treatment staged across two health fund calendar years where sensible
• Payment plans for larger work
• Family appointments blocked together to save trips

Extras limits reset on 31 December for most funds. If you have limit left in November, that is the month to use it — and it is also the busiest, so book early.