Children's Dentistry

Within a year of the first tooth appearing, and no later than the first birthday. Early visits are about prevention and getting the child comfortable with the chair, not about treatment. It also means problems like thumb-sucking or a bottle-mouth habit are caught while they are still easy to change.

Chinese teaching hospitals commonly run dedicated paediatric units and special clinics for nervous patients, and several offer treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic. Tell the clinic in advance how distressed your child is, so they can book into the right clinic rather than a routine appointment. Preparing the child at home without promising it will not hurt helps more than it sounds like it would.

Yes, both are routine. Fluoride varnish is applied to strengthen the enamel, and fissure sealants are placed on the deep grooves of adult back teeth, where decay most often starts. They are preventive measures, not a substitute for brushing and limiting sugary drinks.

Usually, yes - this is a common reason families come. A decayed or damaged tooth, or an injury needing prompt treatment, is straightforward. Bring any previous X-rays and records in English where you can, as they change what the clinician can decide. It is worth asking whether a follow-up review at home will be needed and how that should be arranged.

Adult molars often erupt behind the existing teeth, which is easy to miss because it is painless. A dentist checks this at routine visits. If the new tooth is partly through, the gum can trap food and decay set in quickly, so early attention is worth it.