Children's dental care - Banyule Community Health

Special dental care just for children, to keep their teeth and mouth healthy for the future.

Children can access free general dental and emergency dental care at our dental clinic.

Good oral health in childhood contributes to good oral health in adulthood. So we also offer a range of education, prevention and treatment services to help look after children’s teeth and mouth health.

Kindergarten and early childhood outreach program We visit local kindergartens and early childhood centres to conduct free dental checks.

Children will learn educational messages about oral health and healthy eating habits including:

What happens when you visit the dentist and why it’s important to go regularly
Why baby teeth are important
What tooth decay is and ways to help prevent it
How to brush your teeth properly
How to make healthy food and drink choices to protect your teeth

These dental checks are voluntary and consent is required from a parent or guardian. If a child takes part, they will receive a gift pack and some information to take home to their families about what they learnt.

Do you want this program to come to your kindergarten or early childhood centre? Contact us today.

Smiles 4 Miles This program supports preschool aged children between the ages of 0 to 5 and can be accessed by early childhood services; family day care centres; kindergartens or families.

Smiles 4 Miles aims to improve the oral health of children and families.

We work with parents and the preschool community to:

Drink Well – Drink tap water. Limit sugar sweetened drinks and choose plain milk over flavoured.

Eat Well – Eat a variety of nutritious foods each day and limit sugary foods, particularly between meals.

Clean Well – Brush teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste, have teeth checked by a health professional by the age of 2 – don’t wait for a problem!

To learn more about our program developed from the latest evidence for improving children’s oral health, visit Smiles 4 Miles.

This program is an initiative of Dental Health Services Victoria and is delivered in partnership with Banyule Community Health.

Smile Squad Smile Squad is a Victorian Government program that provides free dental care to all Victorian government primary and secondary school students.

Who is eligible?
All students attending government schools are eligible for free treatment. They do not need a healthcare card, Medicare or the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

What is included?
The friendly Smile Squad dental team will provide students with a free, high quality annual dental health examination and free follow up treatment as needed.

All students will receive a free dental pack including a toothbrush, full sized toothpaste and oral health brochure.

At the first appointment (the check-up), Smile Squad will check the student’s teeth.

Then, depending on their needs, services may include:

x-rays
fluoride varnish
scale and clean
fissure sealants
advice about dental health and diet

If a student needs more treatment, like a filling, Smile Squad will seek consent and make a second appointment. These extra treatments are also completely free.

The program does not include cosmetic procedures.

When will Smile Squad visit your school?
Smile Squad is gradually rolling out across Victoria.

When Smile Squad reaches your area, they will invite your school to join the Smile Squad program.

If your school chooses to join Smile Squad, the school will give students a consent form that needs to be completed and returned before services can be provided.

You can find out more about the program on the Smile Squad website.

Acknowledgement: Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website (www.health.gov.au) for more information.

Disclaimer: Although funding for these Allied Health services has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.