Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Children's Dentistry

Children should brush their teeth at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before bed - for two full minutes each time. Combined with a balanced diet, consistent brushing is the most important foundation for a healthy smile. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic helps parents build effective, stress-free oral hygiene habits for their children from an early age.

Brushing & Flossing Guidelines

• Daily Brushing Routine: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste to gently clean all surfaces of the teeth and gums every morning and night.
• Flossing for Children: If your child has visible spaces between their primary teeth, daily flossing is generally not required. However, flossing is recommended if teeth are close together or if a child continues to experience decay between teeth despite good brushing habits.
• Growing Into Adulthood: As teens mature into adulthood, flossing becomes increasingly vital. Daily flossing should begin as soon as adjacent teeth touch to prevent gingivitis, gum disease, and bad breath.

Preventive Care with Modern Technology

Our experienced doctors, Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana, together with our caring dental team, utilize modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care to Perth and surrounding neighborhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale. We closely monitor your child's brushing efficiency during routine check-ups and provide personalized preventive advice tailored to their unique smile.

Keep Your Child's Smile Healthy

Building strong dental habits early sets your child up for a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with Wright Street Dental Clinic!

Yes, while crowding is very common in young children, it is important to evaluate it early to protect your child’s future oral health. A child with crowded teeth or jaw problems won't necessarily develop severe issues, but adults with untreated crowding face a much higher risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, gum disease, and TMJ problems compared to those with well-aligned jaws and teeth.

Understanding Early Crowding

Because adult teeth are noticeably larger than baby teeth, natural jaw growth doesn't always provide enough room for them to erupt cleanly. Here is what you should know about childhood crowding:

• Persistent Crowding: If you still see crowding around 8 to 9 years old - after all four upper and four lower adult front teeth have erupted; the issue will likely not improve on its own.
• Common Alignment Issue: Crowding is the single most common type of malocclusion in both children and adults.
• Premature Loss of Baby Teeth: Lack of jaw space can sometimes force a baby tooth out prematurely to make room for incoming adult teeth, creating cascading alignment issues.

Early Evaluation & Modern Technology

Catching jaw and alignment issues early makes guiding proper orthodontic growth much easier. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic utilizes modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care to Perth and surrounding neighborhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale.

Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana, along with our dedicated dental team, can examine your child’s jaw growth, discuss potential space-maintaining or orthodontic solutions, and create a tailored plan for their developing smile.

Schedule Your Child's Evaluation

If you notice crowding or have questions about your child's jaw development, we are here to help. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with Wright Street Dental Clinic!

Dental sealants are a highly effective, preventive therapy designed to protect young teeth from decay. The chewing surfaces of baby and adult molars naturally have deep pits and fissures; tiny grooves where food particles and bacteria easily gather. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic recommends sealants to seal off these vulnerable areas before cavities can form.

How Dental Sealants Work

A sealant is a liquid coating applied directly to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, which quickly hardens into a durable, protective plastic shield.

Key features and benefits of sealant therapy include:

Completely Painless: Sealant application is non-invasive, requiring no drilling and no local anesthetic.

Effective Decay Barrier: Smooths out deep molar grooves so food and plaque cannot get trapped in hard-to-clean spaces.

Proven Safety: Sealants are a trusted, routine dental treatment with a proven track record of protecting children's teeth for decades.

Tailored Protection for Your Child

Whether your child needs sealants depends on the depth of their tooth grooves and their overall risk for decay. Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana can perform a gentle examination to determine if sealants are right for your child.

Our experienced dental team utilizes modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care to Perth and surrounding neighborhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale. Applying sealants is quick, painless, and provides long-lasting protection for growing smiles.

Protect Your Child's Smile Today

Preventing cavities before they start is the easiest way to ensure long-term oral health. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with Wright Street Dental Clinic and learn if dental sealants are right for your child!

Baby teeth (primary teeth) play a critical role in your child's overall health and development, serving as far more than temporary place-holders. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic is dedicated to protecting young smiles to ensure proper dental growth from the very start.

Key Roles of Primary Teeth

• Guiding Space for Adult Teeth: Baby teeth reserve exact spaces in the jaw, guiding permanent adult teeth into their correct positions as they erupt.
• Supporting Jaw & Facial Development: Healthy primary teeth encourage proper jaw bone growth and facial muscle development.
• Aiding Speech Development: Teeth are essential for forming words correctly, allowing children to learn clear pronunciation and proper tongue placement.
• Encouraging Good Nutrition: Functional teeth allow kids to chew a wide variety of healthy foods comfortably, supporting proper digestion and growth.

The Impact of Premature Loss

Baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth at specific milestones unique to your child. When primary teeth are lost prematurely - most commonly due to tooth decay - neighboring teeth can drift into the empty space. This premature loss is the leading cause of crowding, misalignment, and bite issues when adult teeth finally arrive.

Gentle Care with Modern Technology

Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana, along with our experienced dental team, utilize modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care to Perth and surrounding neighborhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale. We focus on preventive care to keep your child's teeth clean, healthy, and on track for natural shedding.

Your Cloverdale Dentist Welcomes Your Call

If you have questions about your child's teeth or want to discuss what to expect during a visit, we are here to help. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with Wright Street Dental Clinic!

There are many reasons for tooth discolouration, and even healthy children can experience spots or stains on newly erupted teeth. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic provides gentle, thorough dental evaluations to diagnose the cause of tooth spots and protect your child's growing smile.

Common Causes of Tooth Discolouration

Stains can form on the outside of the tooth or deep within its underlying structure:

• Surface Stains: Most stains are on the tooth surface and are caused by a build-up of plaque, usually stemming from incomplete brushing or breathing through the mouth while sleeping. Our dental team can easily clean and polish away these surface-level stains.
• Enamel or Dentine Disturbances: Discolouration occurring during early tooth development can leave spots embedded within the enamel (hard outer shell) or the dentine beneath it.
• Fluoride Exposure: Consuming excess fluoride while adult teeth are forming can lead to mild fluorosis, which manifests as white or light brown spots.
• Health and Medication Factors: Childhood malnutrition, chronic illness, long-term medication use, or radiation therapy can cause spots and may leave teeth appearing malformed, chipped, or brittle.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It is worth noting that back teeth (molars) can also be affected by developmental spots. During your visit, Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana will ask questions about your child’s health history and carefully examine their teeth. Wright Street Dental Clinic utilizes modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care to Perth and surrounding neighborhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale, allowing us to pinpoint the exact cause and suggest personalized treatment options to improve the appearance and health of your child's teeth.

Get Booked In Today

If you have noticed spots or discolouration on your child's front teeth, we are here to help. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with our team!

Many parents are simply unaware of the high risk of dental injuries during sports, or assume off-the-shelf store options provide adequate protection. Cost concerns or discomfort also cause children to skip wearing them. Located in Cloverdale, WA, Wright Street Dental Clinic helps families across Perth and surrounding neighbourhoods, including Belmont and Rivervale, safeguard young smiles with proper sports protection.

Types of Mouthguards Compared

• Stock Mouthguards: Inexpensive, rigid plastic guards bought from pharmacies or sports stores. They are bulky, fit poorly, interfere with breathing and speech, and offer a false sense of protection.
• Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards: Made from thermoplastic that softens in hot water. While cheap, they easily deform, offer limited impact absorption, can impair breathing, and may even present an airway hazard during high impacts.
• Custom-Fitted Mouthguards: Individually crafted from precise impressions using shock-absorbing dental materials. They fit your child's mouth perfectly, ensuring maximum impact protection and total comfort without affecting breathing or speaking.

The Custom Advantage

Our doctors, Dr Navangi Fernando and Dr Rajinda Pathirana, along with our experienced dental team, utilize modern dental technology to deliver high-quality care tailored to active growing kids. Investing in a custom-fitted guard prevents costly, painful dental emergencies down the road.

Protect Your Child's Smile

Don't compromise your child's dental safety with ill-fitting store-bought options. Call us today at (08) 9479 1970 to schedule an appointment with Wright Street Dental Clinic!