Children’s Dentistry

Children under 12 years go free! Free examination at Bedford Dental.

Having spent 4 years working in children’s dentistry before returning to private practice, Geraldine Honan is particularly experienced in treating children of all ages.

Your child’s first impression of  the dental surgery is an important and lasting one. At Bedford Dental we encourage parents to bring their young children with them to their own examination and cleaning appointments so that the child can take in the surroundings and smells associated with the dental surgery even while sitting in a buggy! We would suggest that by the age of 4 a child should be encouraged to sit up on the dental chair and have his/her teeth ‘counted’. At this stage they may even allow some cleaning of the teeth.

Treatment of your child’s teeth can range from simple examinations and cleaning, oral hygiene instruction and dietary advice to fillings and extractions where necessary. In the course of a child’s development the dentist will ensure that the teeth are erupting (growing into the mouth) in the right position at the right time. In some cases some teeth may not have developed or have erupted into the wrong place. In cases where there is not enough room, Orthodontics (braces) may be necessary in which case your child can be referred to and orthodontist.

Fissure Sealants, which is a protective coating placed on the first adult molar teeth when they erupt into the mouth (around the age of 6-7 years) are recommended in certain cases.

Gumshields may be necessary for children involved in contact sports and are more successful if custom-made by your dentist.