What is a paediatric dentist and why has my child been referred to see you?
Paediatric dentistry is a special field within dentistry that is focused on the oral care and needs of infants, children and adolescents. A specialist paediatric dentist (also known as a paedodontist) has completed several years of post-graduate training in addition to the years of study to become a general dentist.
Dr Evelyn Yeung has undertaken specialist post-graduate study that has prepared them with the knowledge and experience to help
- Provide care for children with special needs
- Provide comprehensive treatment when extensive or complex treatment is required
- With children who are anxious, upset and are unable to cope when they are having dental treatment
- When emergency care is needed i.e. trauma
- When children require sedation as part of their dental treatment
- When children require a frenectomy and/or surgical procedures using a child-friendly approach
- When a second opinion is necessary
What to expect at the first visit?
Preparation
For your convenience, we recommend that your child's registration is completed prior to arriving for their first appointment. If your child has a referral and has had x-rays taken, you are welcome to provide them beforehand or bring them with you on the day.
On the day
Approximately 45-60minutes is allocated for an initial consultation. This ensures that the process if not rushed, and there is sufficient time to obtain the important information required as well as for the specialist to assess and diagnosis any concerns.
Stage 1
The appointment will start with some questions from our team so that we can get a detailed medical and dental history to get good understanding of your child's presenting concerns.
Stage 2
This is then followed with a clinical assessment and if required, x-rays will be taken or requested. These would only be recommended if they are needed to aid with diagnosing the problems at hand. It is an important time for the specialist to plan the most appropriate form of treatment to get the best outcome for the patient.
Treatment is NOT provided at the time of consultation, with the exception of emergency trauma.
Stage 3
Following the diagnosis of any concerns, our specialist will then discuss in detail any findings and management recommendations. This can take some time to cover all the aspects of the treatment plan, to ensure all questions are answered and everyone is comfortable with the procedures.
It would be appreciated if payment is made in full on the day.
If your child has health insurance coverage that you would like to access on the day, we have facilities to aid with your claim.
Alternatively, if your child is eligible for the Medicare Child Dental Benefit Scheme (CDBS), please advise our staff at the beginning. The appropriate documentation will need to be completed, to ensure that you can claim your rebate accordingly.
What to do if my child is unwell for their appointment?
As per Happy Smiles For kids protocol, we ask that anyone who is sick—i.e. has a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, rash and/or signs of gastro.—to reschedule their appointment.
Why are x-rays taken?
Dental (intra oral) x-rays are taken for diagnostic reasons. It enables the dentist to see the existence and extent of any decay or pathology present. Without them, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made for accurate and appropriate treatment planning. The frequency of taking x-rays depends on several factors i.e. your child’s decay risk, whether early-stage lesions are being closely monitored, presence of pathology, and in the event of dental trauma. This will be determined by the specialist in accordance with evidence based publications and guidelines.