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Paediatric Dentistry

Our office begins seeing children at a young age to promote a healthy foundation for great dental health right from the start. We also work with parents on techniques and education, so that they have the tools to succeed when it comes to oral care for their kids.

Your Child’s First Visit

At your child’s first visit, we will help familiarise them with our dental office, so they feel completely comfortable. We will show them their teeth in the mirror, take them for a ride in the chair, and brush their teeth.

Preventive Dentistry

We believe all great dental health begins with an excellent preventive routine. That is why we work with parents to create a successful home care regimen including brushing and flossing, avoiding sugary treats and eating a healthy diet to promote comfortable teeth and gums.

We complement excellent home care with routine examinations and cleans. If necessary, we can also offer additional preventive treatments such as fluoride and fissure sealants to keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are made of clear coatings applied to your child’s teeth to prevent decay. If your child is at high risk for decay or has particularly deep grooves in their teeth, we can apply dental sealants to keep food and bacteria from settling in those grooves where brushing and flossing cannot reach.

Dental sealants are less expensive and less invasive than fillings. They can last for up to five years and can be replaced once they wear off.

Gentle Treatments

For most kids, eventually, some type of dental treatment becomes necessary. We are both compassionate and gentle in our approach to treating children.

We know how important it is to make sure they are comfortable and do not experience dental anxiety. That is why when we treat children, we speak to them in terms they will understand and let them know what we will be doing. That way, their treatment is more effective and less scary.

If you would like to arrange an appointment for your child, give us a call. We are pleased to provide you with excellent, personalised dental care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you see children in your surgery?

We know that convenience is important for today’s busy families. That is why we offer dentistry for the whole family including your children. We begin seeing kids at a young age to make sure they have a healthy dental foundation.

Our Policy for Vulnerable Children

Our policy for vulnerable children

Every child and their family are always treated with respect and empathy, with high quality effective and culturally appropriate services by the Stratford Dental staff.

We realise that most children must be bought to our premises by another adult. We recognise that transporting children may pose difficulties with adult work and family commitments or the lack of reliable transport for some families.

However, if staff at Stratford Dental had concern for the wellbeing of a child because the child was not brought for treatment, or for other presenting issues, the Stratford Dental staff may contact other providers for assistance or to even provide care, e.g: contact a public health nurse or the referring practitioner to assist potentially with transport or other perceived issues.

If the child is not brought for care over an extended period and when the child is deemed to have significant issues such as significant pain and infection then a referral to Oranga Tamariki may be sought when all other avenues have been unsuccessful.

Should a Parent accompany a child into the treatment room?

We’ve been asked:

Should a parent accompany a child into the treatment room?

Dentists frequently prefer that parents do not accompany children into the treatment room since they want to gain the child’s attention and establish control of the situation.

However, for the first visit, it can be comforting for the child to have a parent come along for the process of getting settled into the chair. Some children do much better with a parent there for support, while others may become unruly because they know they can manipulate their parents. Some parents just can’t relinquish their child to another’s care and may interfere unnecessarily, or they may distract the child with bribes, reprimands and conversation.

Mary Anne does like having parents in the room. But, she does prefer to establish one-to-one relationship with the child (as in asking parents to observe only).

Could you stay out of your child’s line of vision and don’t talk.

If your preschooler finds it comforting to hold your hand the dentist may agree to let you do this after the first 10 minutes

There may be some occasions when if treatment is not completed/not attended we are obliged to report this to other child providers.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr Mary Anne Costelloe BDS Dip.Clin
Dentist

Mary Anne has owned this practice for 25 years after purchasing it from Dr Kerry Hamilton/Dr David Haszard after working for Dentists in New Plymouth for 2 years. She has a Clinical Diploma is Paediatric Dentistry and prides herself providing an environment that is very child and Adult friendly, and wishes her patients to understand the treatments offered to them. Mary Anne has 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren