CHILDRENS' TEETH: prioritising early years dental care

We encourage parents to bring their children in as early as possible to see a dentist, not just to look out for early signs of decay, but also to get the children familiar with the dental environment.

Call 01256 856289 to register

child-friendly dental solutions

At The Hartley Clinic in Hartley Wintney, we are committed to supporting the dental health of all our patients, especially the younger ones. We recommend to parents that they bring their children in for regular dental check-ups from a young age and this way our dental team can monitor their growing teeth and spot early signs of trouble, such as milk tooth decay.

Furthermore, if you bring children to the dentist at an early age, it allows the children to become familiar with the dental environment and not growing up being fearful of the dentist. Dental anxiety is very real, and often leads to patients not getting the dental treatment they really need because of their anxiety. This is an outcome we don’t want for your children, and we promise that we will do our best to always make your children feel safe and reassured.

toothbrush blog

dental treatment for children

At The Hartley Clinic we are able to take on both NHS and private young patients, and offer a range of dental services to support your children on their journey to maintaining health and happy teeth as they are growing up. In our experience, some children may benefit from fluoride applications to help reduce the chance of tooth decay and deterioration. When you bring your child in for a dental examination, your dentist will give you the best advice for preserving their early teeth.

For children who participate in contact sports, we can create bespoke mouth guards to protect their teeth during their chosen activity. Moreover, if you have a child who has already damaged a tooth through trauma, we are well-equipped to restore teeth appropriately. 

children's dentistry FAQs

We recommend that you first bring your child in to see the dentist as soon as the front teeth erupt, so that we we can effectively monitor the healthy development of the infant’s teeth and gums. At this visit you are also encouraged to raise any concerns you may have around matters such as dietary guidelines or pacifier use. 

Furthermore, dental trauma is quite common in toddlers as they are less steady on their feet, so our team is at hand to help in these situations. We also believe that if you bring your child to dentist from an early age, they are going to feel more comfortable and confident in the future, when it comes to dealing with dental treatments.

Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth as a way to protect the tooth surface from decay. We apply a high concentration fluoride varnish onto the surface of the tooth and this can be repeated every 6 months for best protection. The fluoride varnish works by actually strengthening the tooth enamel and making it more resistant to decay.

Usually we use fluoride varnish on the teeth of children over 3, but in some cases we can treat younger children. If you have any concerns about decay in your child’s teeth, please contact your dentist for expert guidance.

The first adult molars that a child gets are often prone to decay because food particles are easily trapped in the grooved surface. From around age 6 or 7 (depending on when the first adults molars emerge), we can offer children fissure sealants to help protect their teeth from decay.

Fissure sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where decay is most likely to occur. The most commonly sealed teeth are the permanent molars which erupt at about 6 years of age. 

Fissure sealants work by filling in the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, which are hard to clean even with a good brushing technique. It is a quick and comfortable procedure that can help protect children’s teeth for many years.

With very young children it is vital that an adult supervises the tooth brushing and a regular daily habit should be established as soon as the first milk teeth appear. We encourage parents to make the twice daily teeth cleaning as fun as possible for the child, so long as the process is done thoroughly. Adults should guide the brush correctly and show the child in a mirror what they’re doing.

Over the age of 7, children may be able to manage the brushing techniques themselves but ongoing supervision is still strongly recommended to ensure best results. Speak to your dentist if you want further guidance on how to keep young teeth and gums heathy from an early age.

Usually we recommend that children come in for a dental examination every 6 months, to keep up with dietary changes and natural growth stages.

Welcoming Children at The Hartley Clinic

At The Hartley Clinic, in the centre of the village of Hartley Wintney, we have a very experienced and highly-trained team of dental clinicians providing general and cosmetic dentistry for you and your family. If you would like to register at the practice and discuss appointment availability for your child, simply call reception on 01256 856289.

Very impressed with the service I received from reception and all the dental staff. I was very nervous after not seeing a dentist for 35 years and they made me feel confident and comfortable. I am now happy to return for the treatment suggested.
Janet G.
What a great little dentist! The reception area is very well presented, clean and tidy. Katy (dentist), her dental nurse and the receptionist were all so lovely and caring. They made me forget why I was ever worried about going to the dentist - highly recommend!
Bradley S.
"Dr. Jeavons is amazing, very consultative and has the ‘less is more’ approach to all aesthetics. Came out feeling fantastic and fresh faced. Reception and other staff are so lovely and friendly too. Very professional. Highly recommend"
S.G.
"I have visited the Hartley Clinic for 3 separate treatments - all on going with regular appointments. The team are extremely knowledgeable and not at all pushy when giving advice. If you are looking to make an investment in yourself, this is the place to go, I really can't recommend them enough"
Sarah H.
"Had a course of Invisalign with Dr Jeavons at The Hartley Clinic to straighten my teeth out. So pleased with the results and help throughout. If I needed anything along the way, the lovely Amanda would be able to fit me in. Would recommend Invisalign through The Hartley Clinic or just a regular check up"
Alexander G.
"On arriving at the surgery, I felt very much at ease and safe, my anxiety greatly reduced. I would highly recommend this dentist and cannot thank Ailing and Amanda enough for their professional care and understanding"
M.V.
"Made an online booking with The Hartley Clinic for an aesthetics appointment and am so pleased I did! Polite reception staff, modern and stylish clinic and lovely, well explained procedure. Highly recommend and I will become a regular client"
E.M.
"Amazing experience at The Hartley Clinic with Ailing. The clinic is super friendly. I was nervous as it was my first time having the service that I had booked in for. I was made to feel very relaxed which made my whole experience comfortable"
C.B.H.
"Thank you to the lovely ladies at the clinic today, I had Profhilo done for the first time and they made me feel very much at ease (being needle phobic) Excellent care given - I highly recommend this clinic and will be telling my friends. Thank you!"
S.K.
"Thank you to the ladies at The Hartley Clinic. The service was second to none, from the initial contact made through to treatment. Front of house were very polite and informative, made me feel very comfortable from the outset"
D.V.
"Totally impressed with the honesty of Dr Jeavons, even though it meant I wouldn't be spending any money with the clinic this time. For anyone thinking of having treatment here, you will definitely get the right advice and it may not necessarily be what you thought you needed"
Kathy A.
"Always well looked after by all at Hartley Clinic and Dr Jeavons is the best aesthetic practitioner I've had, only wants to offer you the best natural result possible. I've had her for Botox, lip fillers, Profhilo - highly recommend"
Tammy T.
"I was looking a bit tired and droopy around the jawline and cheek area so came in for an in-depth consultation with Dr Jeavons. I am so glad I did as I now feel much happier in myself and look so much younger. The result of my Silhouette Soft thread lift is subtle and natural. My friends keep looking at me but can't quite tell what's different!"
Amanda
"The clinic is very welcoming, all my anxiety was left at the door! Professional and friendly staff. The appointment was quick and on time. Extremely pleased with treatment and the outcome. I will be returning later in the year. I would highly recommend. Thank you"
Mandie C.CEO
"I cannot express my delight at the finished crown enough! The match to my existing tooth in such a visible place is perfect, including a little translucence detail. I've also had a couple of veneers to correct a gap & twist between two teeth, the transformation to my smile is amazing!"
Julia H.
"The most wonderful and expert team is awaiting you at this clinic! I can wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who would like to look and feel their best. They give you expert advice on what best suits you considering you as an individual and your beauty goals"
Maria Z.