Tooth decay in kids....

[Astrid]

For those that are in VIC here is info on the Public Dental System:
Victoria's public dental system - Clients: Dentistry in Victoria - Victorian Government Health Information, Australia

[Calluna]

ooh yes! I partially agree with you. I dont think it's healthy in any way for kids to be drinking soft drink and sugary juices (ie anything bought from the supermarket - not sure about homemade juice but it has to be better right?). DS has only had booby milk and water too, oh except once when he was a bit blocked up and had some really dilute prune juice.

The part I agree with is the dentist being soo darn exxy! I've had a tooth ache for a good 6 months now. It's getting worse and now a wisdom tooth is coming through putting pressure on the rest of my teeth on that side of my mouth and hurts like heck! But we just cannot afford for me to go to the dentist.

DS rarely eats anything 'unhealthy' and I brush his teeth religeously but they are still beggining to go yellow So would like to get them proffesionally cleaned sometime soon but again, too exxy...

[Olive]

remember prevention (cheaper) is better than cure

[~Kim~]

Westmead has a kids clinic - not sure how far west you are.

[Calluna]

remember prevention (cheaper) is better than cure

[Trillian]

Mummydreamer, where exactly are you? You can PM me if you like. In my town (West Wyalong) there is a school dental clinic that covers children up to the age of 18 with free dental treatment. They don't even have to be at school yet. There could be a service like that near you - this one operates out of the local school and travels to the next town as well.

I understand what you are saying though, but I think it's a bit of a media beatup to always blame it on what our kids eat. I have 4 kids, they all eat the same things and have a pretty good diet, yet two of them just have crappy teeth. Last year alone we spent $2500 on their teeth - both preventative and treatment for fillings etc and if we didn't have PHI that covered most of that cost we'd not be able to afford it either (I stopped using the free clinic once we got PHI - I didn't think it was right to keep using it). Even last week I took DS1 for a checkup and a mouthguard fitting and the dentist did some fissure seals on 4 of his teeth as a prevention and it cost over $600 just for that and that didn't include the cost of the mouthguard! So it is terribly expensive and I agree that often dental care is just unaffordable for many people. All you can do it make sure you brush their teeth the best you can and try to eat things that will also help.

[Olive]

trillian $600 for 4 fissure seals whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?

[Trillian]

It was 4 fissure seals on his molars at $140 each and then a $50 check up and a $40 flouride treatment. I was actually left with a gap of $78, but the last two times I've been there we've not had to pay the gap. I guess he feels sorry for us LOL. It seems like I'm in there every week. Two weeks ago I had DS2 in there for a filling and a fissure seal, then L was on Friday and E is next friday for 2 more fillings. Last year E had 11 fillings and seals in a single session and it cost nearly $1300 - lucky the gap was only about $125.