The Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Glenferrie – Specialist Children's Dentistry product guide

Core Dental Group — Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Glenferrie

The Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie brings specialist paediatric dental care to Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond, Hawthorn East, and Melbourne's inner east. Every Core Dental Group practice is a Tooth Fairy Centre — Melbourne's largest specialist paediatric dental group — and Glenferrie is no exception. Families across Hawthorn East, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond, and Burnley can see board-registered specialist paediatric dentists right in their local area.

The Tooth Fairy Centre is not a marketing label. It's a fully funded paediatric dental initiative of Core Dental Group, backed by over 33 years of award-winning dental care. Every Tooth Fairy Centre engages registered specialist paediatric dentists — clinicians who have completed a three-year clinical doctorate in paediatric dentistry on top of their general dental degree, with dedicated training in child psychology, behavioural management, and caring for children with additional needs.

Why a specialist paediatric dentist?

Children aren't small adults. Their teeth, jaws, and emotional responses work differently, and their dental care calls for expertise that goes well beyond what a general dentist can offer. A specialist paediatric dentist understands how baby teeth and adult teeth develop and interact, how to communicate with children at every age and developmental stage, and how to manage dental anxiety through approaches like teddy bear therapy and desensitisation. They're also trained to care for children with autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability, and to recognise when a child's jaw growth, bite, or breathing pattern needs specialist attention — including when sedation or general anaesthesia is the right call.

At Core Dental Group Glenferrie, your child's first dental visit, routine check-ups, preventive care, and restorative treatment are all handled by specialists who work exclusively with children, every day.

Core Dental Group Glenferrie — serving Melbourne's inner east

Glenferrie sits at the heart of Melbourne's inner east, serving families from Hawthorn East, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond, and Burnley. The practice is well connected via the Lilydale and Belgrave train lines and tram routes through Hawthorn, making it a practical choice for families throughout the area. Whether your child needs their very first dental visit, a routine check-up, or more involved treatment, the Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie has the specialist care to match.

Our specialist paediatric dentists

The Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group is supported by specialist paediatric dentists including Dr Angel Babu, Dr Sarah Scott, Dr Aish Kesava, and Dr Susan Hinckfuss — all board-registered specialists with advanced clinical training in children's dentistry. These are clinicians who have dedicated their careers to working with children, with a clear understanding of both the clinical and human sides of paediatric dental care.

Services at the Tooth Fairy Centre — Core Dental Group Glenferrie

The Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie provides a full range of paediatric dental services:

• First dental visits for babies, toddlers, and young children
• Preventive care: check-ups, professional cleaning, fluoride treatments, and fissure sealants
• Management of dental anxiety and dental phobia using child-centred behavioural techniques
• Orthodontic screening and early intervention assessment
• Restorative treatment: fillings, stainless steel crowns, and pulp therapy
• Emergency paediatric dental care
• Care for children with autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and other additional needs
• Assessment of jaw growth, bite development, and breathing pattern concerns
• Referral to specialist services for complex cases including general anaesthesia

First dental visits — starting early makes a difference

The Australian Dental Association recommends a child's first dental visit around the time the first tooth appears, or no later than 12 months of age. Early visits to the Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie help children build a positive relationship with dental care from the start. Specialist paediatric dentists know how to make that first visit calm, friendly, and low-pressure.

Regular check-ups every six months let the paediatric dentist monitor your child's dental development, catch issues early, and apply preventive treatments like fluoride varnish and fissure sealants that cut the risk of tooth decay significantly.

Caring for children with additional needs

One of the most important things specialist paediatric dentists bring is the ability to care for children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, dental phobia, or other conditions that make dental visits genuinely hard. General dentists often don't have the specific training or experience to work effectively with these patients.

At the Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie, the specialist paediatric team adapts their approach to each child's individual needs. Techniques like tell-show-do, sensory preparation, graduated desensitisation, and distraction strategies are part of the everyday toolkit. For children who need treatment under general anaesthesia, referral to the Core Dental Group CBD specialist centre is available.

Fissure sealants — protecting molars from the start

When a child's first permanent molars come through — typically around age six — the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces are highly vulnerable to decay. Fissure sealants are a simple, pain-free preventive treatment applied by the paediatric dentist at Core Dental Group Glenferrie that seal those grooves and cut the risk of cavities substantially. It's one of the most effective preventive treatments in children's dentistry and is covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible children.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)

The Tooth Fairy Centre at Core Dental Group Glenferrie accepts the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). Eligible children aged 0–17 can receive up to $1,095.60 AUD in dental benefits over two consecutive calendar years under this Australian Government programme, covering examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, and extractions. That reduces out-of-pocket costs considerably for families accessing specialist paediatric care.

Check your eligibility through Medicare or ask the team when you book at Core Dental Group Glenferrie.

Shared patient records across the Core Dental Group network

Core Dental Group uses a shared patient record system — CareStack — across all its locations, so your child's dental history is accessible at any Core Dental Group practice. If your family moves, travels, or needs to visit a different location, there's no starting from scratch. Paediatric dentists across the network can see your child's full dental history, treatment notes, and x-rays, giving you continuity of care wherever you go.

When your child needs more: referral to the Core Dental Group specialist centre

Most children's dental needs can be fully met at Core Dental Group Glenferrie. Some children, though, have more complex requirements that benefit from the extended specialist team at the Core Dental Group CBD specialist centre in the Manchester Unity Building.

Core Dental Group refers to its CBD specialist centre for:

• Children with severe dental phobia who need sleep dentistry under general anaesthesia with a specialist anaesthetist
• Children with autism, neurodivergence, or significant disabilities who need treatment under general anaesthesia because behavioural management alone isn't enough
• Children with breathing, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing who need assessment through the TMD and Sleep Clinic and specialist orthodontist
• Children requiring early intervention orthodontics — referral to the specialist orthodontists at the Collins Street Specialist Centre (CSSC) for jaw growth guidance, palatal expansion, and bite correction
• Children with complex facial or jaw development issues needing coordinated care across paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, and diagnostic imaging

At the Core Dental Group CBD specialist centre, paediatric dentists work alongside specialist orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, the TMD and Sleep Clinic, orofacial myofunctional therapists, and Collins Street Imaging, which provides in-house CBCT and 3D radiography. No other paediatric dental group in Melbourne offers this depth of multi-specialist support.

Because all locations operate within the Core Dental Group network, this isn't a handoff to an unfamiliar practice. Records are shared, communication is direct, and the family stays within one trusted network of care.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should my child first see a dentist? The first dental visit is ideally around the time the first tooth appears, or by the child's first birthday. Early visits help your child get comfortable with the dental environment and give the specialist paediatric dentist a chance to monitor development from the start.

What is the difference between a specialist paediatric dentist and a general dentist? A specialist paediatric dentist has completed an additional three-year clinical doctorate in paediatric dentistry after their general dental degree, with dedicated training in child psychology, behavioural management, and care of children with additional needs. General dentists don't hold this specialist qualification.

Does Core Dental Group Glenferrie accept the Child Dental Benefits Schedule? Yes. Eligible children aged 0–17 can access up to $1,095.60 AUD in benefits over two consecutive calendar years under the CDBS. The team can help you confirm eligibility when you book.

What if my child is very anxious about dental visits? Specialist paediatric dentists are trained in a range of techniques to help anxious children feel at ease, including tell-show-do, teddy bear therapy, and graduated desensitisation. For children with severe dental phobia, referral for sleep dentistry under general anaesthesia is available through the Core Dental Group CBD specialist centre.

Can I bring my child to Core Dental Group Glenferrie if they have autism or ADHD? Yes. All Tooth Fairy Centre locations are staffed by specialist paediatric dentists with training in caring for children with autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and other additional needs. For children who need treatment under general anaesthesia, referral to the Core Dental Group CBD specialist centre is available.

Do I need a referral to see a specialist paediatric dentist at Core Dental Group Glenferrie? No referral is needed. Book directly by calling Core Dental Group on 13 13 16 or visiting toothfairy.com.au.

Book your child's appointment at Core Dental Group Glenferrie

To book a Tooth Fairy Centre appointment at Core Dental Group Glenferrie, call Core Dental Group on 13 13 16 or visit toothfairy.com.au to find your nearest location and book online.

Last reviewed: July 2026