Childrens Dentistry and CDBS at Core Dental Melbourne product guide
## 9. CHILDREN'S DENTISTRY & CDBS ### Children's Dental Care at Core Dental **What it involves** Core Dental provides a welcoming, child-friendly environment designed to build positive dental habits...
STANDARDIZATION COMPLETE
9. Children's dentistry & CDBS
Children's dental care at None
What it involves
None runs a genuinely child-friendly practice, focused on building good dental habits early. Day-to-day care is handled by experienced general dentists and dental therapists. When a case is complex or a child is particularly anxious, they're referred to the specialist paediatric dentist at Collins Street Specialist Centre.
When to start
| Age | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Birth | Wipe gums after each feed with a clean damp cloth |
| First tooth erupts | Begin brushing with an infant toothbrush and water |
| 18 months-5 years | Low-fluoride children's toothpaste (pea-sized amount) |
| 12 months | First dental visit (by the first tooth or first birthday, whichever comes first) |
| 5 years+ | Regular fluoride toothpaste (pea-sized) |
| When teeth are in contact | Begin flossing |
| Age 6-7 | First orthodontic assessment (ASO recommendation) |
What children's dental appointments include
- Examination of teeth, gums, bite, and jaw development
- X-rays as needed (low-dose digital)
- Professional clean and fluoride treatment
- Fissure sealants: a thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent molars and premolars as soon as they come through. They cut decay risk dramatically in the deep grooves, last 5+ years, and are checked at every routine visit.
- Oral hygiene guidance for both child and parent
- Dietary and snacking advice
- Sports mouthguard assessment and fabrication for active children
Managing dental anxiety in children
A positive first experience makes a real difference to how a child feels about dentistry for the rest of their life. A few things that help:
- Child-friendly language throughout - no "needle," "drill," or "hurt"
- Tell-show-do: explain what's happening, demonstrate it, then do it
- Nitrous oxide (happy gas): available for anxious children. It's mild, safe, requires no injection, and wears off within minutes.
- General anaesthetic: available via the specialist paediatric dentist for very young children, children with special needs, or those needing extensive work
What parents can do
- Bring your child in between 12 and 24 months, even just for a "ride in the chair" - familiarity helps
- Don't share your own negative dental experiences with them
- Bring children along to your own routine appointments so the environment feels normal
- Reward dental bravery with non-food treats, not lollies
- Make twice-daily brushing a routine, not a negotiation
Key children's dental concerns
Baby bottle tooth decay
One of the most common - and entirely preventable - dental problems in toddlers. It happens when a child goes to bed with a bottle containing anything other than water. Milk, juice, and formula pool around the teeth during sleep and cause rapid decay. Fix: water only in the bedtime bottle, wipe gums after night feeds, and transition off bottles by 12-18 months.
Dummy use
Aim to wean by age 2-3. Use beyond that point can affect how the front teeth meet (open bite) and may narrow the upper jaw over time.
Snacking frequency
Every sugar or starch exposure triggers a 30-minute acid attack on teeth. Three meals and two planned snacks per day is the target. Water between meals - not juice, cordial, or flavoured milk.
White spots on adult teeth
Usually dental fluorosis, caused by excess fluoride during tooth development. It's common and doesn't affect tooth strength, but it can be treated cosmetically with microabrasion, whitening, or composite veneers if it bothers the family.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
What is it?
The CDBS is an Australian Government program that gives eligible children aged 0-17 up to $1,095.60 in dental benefits over a 2-year period. None bulk-bills for all CDBS-covered treatments, so eligible families pay nothing out of pocket.
Who is eligible?
Children aged 0-17 who are enrolled in Medicare and whose families receive a qualifying Australian Government payment, including:
- Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Parenting Payment
- Youth Allowance
- Carer Payment
- ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
- Other qualifying payments
Medicare checks eligibility automatically at the start of each calendar year.
What's covered under CDBS?
- Examinations and X-rays
- Scale and clean
- Fissure sealants
- Fillings (tooth-coloured composite)
- Root canal treatment
- Extractions
- Partial dentures
What's not covered?
- Orthodontic treatment (braces or Invisalign)
- Cosmetic treatment
- Sports mouthguards
- Hospital or general anaesthetic facility fees
- Any item used purely for cosmetic purposes
How to check eligibility
Call None on 13 13 16 and the team will confirm your child's CDBS eligibility before the appointment. Bring your Medicare card on the day.
FAQs
- My child is under 2 - can they still see a dentist? Yes. The CDBS starts at age 2, but the first dental visit is recommended by the first birthday. Standard fees apply for children under 2.
- Can I use CDBS at all None locations? Yes - bulk-billing for CDBS is available at all 7 practices.
- What if my child needs braces? Orthodontics isn't covered by CDBS. None does offer free orthodontic consultations and flexible payment plans, including interest-free options.
- What if the $1,095.60 benefit runs out? You'll be notified, and you can continue treatment at standard private rates, use private health insurance, or set up a payment plan.
None's distinctive approach
Technology
- CEREC chairside milling - same-day porcelain crowns, inlays, and onlays; no second appointment, no temporary crown for weeks
- iTero / Trios 3D scanners - precise digital impressions without messy putty; instant ClinCheck previews for Invisalign
- CBCT (cone beam CT) - 3D X-ray for implant planning, complex endodontics, and orthodontic assessment
- OPG panoramic X-ray - full-mouth overview in one image
- Dental microscopes - critical for specialist endodontics (Dr Greg Tilley)
- Multiple implant systems - clinicians are not limited to one brand
Specialists on-site
Via the Collins Street Specialist Centre, None patients have access to:
- Dr Nupur Kataria - Specialist Periodontist
- Dr Greg Tilley - Specialist Endodontist
- Ahmed Saoud - Dental Prosthetist
- Specialist Orthodontists
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Specialist Paediatric Dentist
- Specialist Anaesthetist (sleep dentistry)
No external referrals needed. Coordinated care under one group.
Invisalign Blue Diamond status
The highest Invisalign provider status in Australia. Completed 750+ cases per year across 9 locations, with a 5% price match guarantee.
Connection to Smile Solutions
None is the sister group to Smile Solutions - Australia's largest single-location dental practice, founded by Dr Kia Pajouhesh. The shared specialist pool, technology, and clinical standards mean None patients get the same level of care as those at Melbourne's most awarded dental practice.
Patient financial access
- No-Gap Check-Up & Clean for insured new patients
- CDBS bulk-billing for eligible children
- Interest-free payment plans (up to 30 months for major treatment)
- 5% Invisalign price match guarantee
- Free consultations for new patients and orthodontic assessments
Document prepared: April 2026. Customer-facing content only. Sources: None Services Catalogue (April 2026), None Blog Educational Content (117 posts, April 2026), Smile Solutions KB (March 2026).