Treatment
Children's dentistry
Gentle check-ups, fluoride and sealants to protect children's teeth and help them feel at ease at the dentist.
Medical review by Dr. Vahid: pending ·
What is children's dentistry?
In short
Children's dentistry is regular, gentle care that helps young teeth stay healthy and helps children feel comfortable at the dentist. Common guidance is to bring a child for a first visit by their first birthday or when their first tooth appears. Early visits are mostly about prevention, such as fluoride, sealants and advice for parents.
What happens, step by step
Meet and settle
Your child can sit on your lap or in the chair. We take our time to say hello, show what the equipment does and let them get used to the room.
A gentle look
We count and check their teeth, and look at gums and bite. For most young children there is no need for X-rays at the first visit.
Advice for you
We talk about brushing, toothpaste, drinks and snacks, dummies and thumb sucking, and anything you have noticed.
Preventive care and next visit
If suitable, we apply fluoride or seal back teeth. We tell you when to come back, usually in about six months.
Is children's dentistry right for your child?
- Your child has a first tooth or is turning one, and you would like to start dental visits.
- Your child is due a regular check-up.
- You have noticed a mark, a brown spot, or your child complains of tooth pain.
- Your child is nervous and you want a calm first experience.
- You would like advice about dummies, thumb sucking, bottles, snacks or brushing.
Options
Check-ups
We look at your child's teeth, gums and bite, talk with you about brushing and diet, and check how their teeth are developing.
Fluoride
A fluoride varnish painted on the teeth helps strengthen enamel and protect against decay. We advise how often depending on your child's risk.
Fissure sealants
A thin protective coating is painted onto the chewing surface of back teeth to seal the grooves where food and bacteria collect. It is usually quick and does not need drilling.
Fillings and other treatment
If a tooth has decay, we explain the options in plain words for both of you, and do only what is needed.
How long does a children's dental visit take?
- First visit
- By the first birthday or when the first tooth appears, as is commonly advised.
- Visit length
- Usually short. A first visit is often 20 to 30 minutes.
- How often to visit
- For most children, about every six months. We will advise you for your child.
- Anaesthesia
- Not needed for check-ups, fluoride and sealants. Local anaesthetic is used if a tooth needs a filling or removal.
- Recovery
- None for check-ups. After a filling the cheek or lip may be numb for a few hours.
Aftercare
- Brush your child's teeth twice a day with a smear of fluoride toothpaste for under 3s and a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6, then help them brush until they are about 7 or 8.
- Keep sugary snacks and drinks to mealtimes, and avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle of anything but water.
- After a filling, keep your child from chewing until the numbness has gone.
- After fluoride varnish, avoid hot drinks and hard foods for a few hours, as we will tell you.
- Keep regular check-ups, even if teeth look fine.
- Contact us if your child has swelling, a fever, a knocked tooth or ongoing pain.
Risks and limitations
- Some children are anxious at first. It may take more than one visit to get comfortable, and that is normal.
- Fluoride varnish and sealants reduce the risk of decay but do not remove it. Good brushing and diet still matter.
- Sealants can wear down or chip and are checked at each visit.
- Fillings in baby teeth may need to be redone, and baby teeth that cannot be saved are sometimes removed.
- Too much fluoride toothpaste while teeth are forming can cause faint white marks on the teeth, which is why we advise on the right amount.
Alternatives
- Brushing, diet changes and regular check-ups alone help many children, without added treatments.
- Waiting and monitoring a very small area of early decay, if it is safe to do so.
- Referral to a specialist children's dentist, if your child needs more support than we can give.
Questions about children's dentistry
When should my child first see a dentist?
Commonly advised is by their first birthday or when their first tooth comes through, whichever is first. The first visit is short and mostly about getting used to the clinic and giving you advice on brushing, diet and habits. Starting early helps children see the dentist as normal and helps us catch problems sooner.
How do you help children who are nervous?
We go slowly. We explain things in simple words, show what each instrument does before using it, and let your child get used to the room. You can stay with them. If your child is not ready, we stop and try again another day. There is no need to promise them that nothing will hurt.
Do baby teeth really matter if they fall out?
Yes. Baby teeth help children chew and speak, and they hold space for the adult teeth. Decay in a baby tooth can cause pain and infection, and losing one too early can make adult teeth come in crooked. Looking after them also builds habits that last.
What is a fissure sealant?
A fissure sealant is a thin coating painted onto the chewing surface of back teeth. It fills the deep grooves where food and bacteria collect, which helps prevent decay. Placing it is quick, does not need drilling and should not hurt. Sealants can wear down, so we check them at each visit.
How much toothpaste should my child use?
For children under 3, a smear of fluoride toothpaste on the brush. From age 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount. Children should spit out afterward rather than rinse. Help them brush until they are about 7 or 8. Ask us if your child is at higher risk of decay, as we may suggest a stronger toothpaste.
What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth?
Contact us straight away. If it is a baby tooth, do not put it back. If it is an adult tooth, hold it by the crown, not the root, rinse it gently in milk if it is dirty, and if possible put it back in the socket. Otherwise keep it in milk and come to us as soon as you can.
Other treatments
Dental implants
A fixed way to replace one tooth, several teeth or a full arch, planned from a scan at your consultation.
Veneers
Thin shells of porcelain or composite that cover the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or size.
Cosmetic dentistry
Whitening, bonding and smile planning to change how your teeth look, with a clear explanation of each option's limits.
Talk to Dr. Vahid about children's dentistry
Send us a message or call. We will suggest a time for a consultation.
Address
Naji Aldakhil Medical CenterOffice 202, Block A, Al Khalafi Building, Al Mamzar, DubaiGet directions
Opening hours
- Saturday – Thursday
- 10 AM – 8 PM
- Friday
- Closed