Take your child to the dentist as soon as their first tooth comes through, or by their first birthday, whichever happens first. That is a lot earlier than most parents expect. The point of that first visit is not treatment. It is getting your child used to the place while nothing is wrong. A check-up for under-16s at Pear Tree Dental costs £30, and NHS dental treatment is free for under-18s if you can get an NHS appointment.
What follows is what matters at each stage, from the first tooth to the teenage years, and what to do if your child is frightened already.
Under 3: the first visit
Bring them early and bring them often, before anything hurts. A child whose first experience of a dentist is an emergency learns that dentists mean pain. A child who has been coming since they were a toddler learns that it is boring and safe. Boring is what you are aiming for.
Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. Twice a day, with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
Do not rinse with water afterwards. It washes the fluoride straight off. Spit, do not rinse.
Keep sugary drinks out of bottles, and never put a child to bed with a bottle of anything except water.
Expect the early appointments to be short. A look, a count of the teeth, a chat. Often your child just sits on your lap.
Ages 3 to 6: building the habit
This is when brushing turns into a nightly battle in most houses. It is also when the damage that shows up at seven or eight is quietly being done. Children this age cannot brush properly on their own, however confident they seem about it.
Brush their teeth for them, or go over them again afterwards, until they are about seven. The fine motor control is not there before that.
Your dentist may apply fluoride varnish, a quick painless coating that strengthens enamel and cuts decay.
Baby teeth matter more than people think. They hold the space for the adult teeth coming behind them, and losing them early to decay can cause crowding later. "They'll fall out anyway" is probably the most expensive misconception in children's dentistry.
Ages 6 to 12: adult teeth, sealants and a first look at alignment
The first adult molars arrive at around six, and most parents never notice, because no baby tooth falls out to announce them. They have deep grooves that trap food, and they are the most common site of childhood decay.
Ask about fissure sealants. It is a protective coating painted into the grooves of the back teeth, it needs no drilling, and it is one of the most effective preventive treatments there is.
This is the age when a dentist starts watching how the adult teeth are coming through and whether there is room for them. Early assessment is about spotting problems, not starting treatment.
Most orthodontic treatment waits until the adult teeth are mostly through, usually around 12 or 13. Being told to wait is normal. It does not mean nothing is wrong.
Teenagers: alignment, and the years they stop listening
Teenagers are the likeliest group to drop out of dental care altogether, at precisely the point when fizzy drinks and haphazard brushing make them most vulnerable. They are also the group who care most about how their teeth look, which is worth using.
NHS orthodontic treatment is available to under-18s who meet clinical need criteria, measured by an IOTN score. It is not available for purely cosmetic straightening.
Privately, clear aligners start at £2,400 for ClearCorrect and £2,800 for Invisalign, with retainers from £150 per arch.
Retainers are for life, whichever route you take. Teeth drift back without them, and teenagers are the worst offenders for giving up on them. Be blunt with them about it early.
What if my child is frightened?
Very common, and mostly fixable. How the parent handles it makes an enormous difference, usually without them realising.
Never use the dentist as a threat. And do not promise it "won't hurt", because if anything ever does, you have lost their trust for years.
Try not to pass on your own fear. Children read anxiety in adults far better than adults think they do. If you are the nervous one, consider sending someone else with them.
Book a visit where nothing happens. Just meeting the team, sitting in the chair, going home. It is a perfectly legitimate appointment to ask for and it works.
Tell us beforehand that your child is nervous. It changes how we set the appointment up and how much time we leave.
At Pear Tree, family dentistry and care for younger patients is led by our principal dentists. Dr Imrana Ishaque (BDS, MFDS, GDC 252578) has a special interest in restorative and aesthetic dentistry, with a particular interest in cosmetic treatments, and will talk you through what is realistic for your teeth at your consultation.
What it costs
An under-16 examination at Pear Tree Dental is £30.
NHS dental treatment is free for under-18s, if you can get an NHS appointment. Lists across Nottinghamshire have been effectively closed to new adult patients, but it is always worth asking whether a practice can take your children even when it cannot take you.
The Family Plan is £49.50 a month, covering two check-ups and two hygienist visits per person per year across the family, with X-rays, 10% off selected treatments and worldwide dental accident and emergency cover.
Spreading the cost with membership
If you are a regular patient, it is worth knowing that Pear Tree membership plans start from £10.95 a month and include your routine check-ups, hygiene visits and X-rays, plus 10% off selected treatments and worldwide dental accident and emergency cover on every plan. For families, the Family Plan covers everyone from £49.50 a month. Members on our Complete Care plan save about £177 a year against paying for the same routine care appointment by appointment — ask us which treatments the discount applies to.
Children's dentistry in Burton Joyce
We are at 22 Nottingham Road, Burton Joyce, NG14 5AE, a few minutes from Gedling, Arnold, Lowdham and Carlton. There is parking right outside, which matters more than it sounds when you are wrangling a toddler and a pushchair. Book an appointment or call us on 0115 931 2935, and do say if your child is nervous so we can leave enough time.
FAQ
Q: When should my child first see a dentist? A: When their first tooth appears, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Those early visits are about familiarity rather than treatment, and children who start young are noticeably less anxious later on.
Q: How much does a children's dental check-up cost in Nottingham? A: An under-16 examination at Pear Tree Dental is £30. On the NHS, dental treatment is free for under-18s, if you can get an NHS appointment.
Q: Do baby teeth really matter if they are going to fall out anyway? A: Yes, and this is the costliest misunderstanding in children's dentistry. Baby teeth hold the space for the adult teeth behind them. Losing them early to decay can cause crowding that needs orthodontic work later.
Q: When should my child be assessed for braces? A: A dentist will watch how the adult teeth come through from around six, but treatment usually waits until most of them are present, around 12 or 13. Being told to wait is normal and does not mean there is no problem.
Q: My child is terrified of the dentist. What can I do? A: Tell us before the appointment so we can allow extra time, and ask for a visit where nothing happens except meeting us and sitting in the chair. Avoid using the dentist as a threat, and try not to let them see your own nerves.
Clinically reviewed by Javaad Mirza (MD, BDS), Principal Dentist at Pear Tree Dental, GDC No. 290378. Last reviewed July 2026. Prices are correct at the time of review and confirmed before treatment. This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Book an appointment.