Childrens dental care. Is this right?

[Trillian]

Yeah, they used to all be real dentists, but I think as a way of being able to provide the service they started using dental technicians/therapists.

[AnyDream]

Well they all looked like dentists and acted like dentists, and I wouldn't have known the difference. But DD needed prophylactic antibiotics, so they had to find the actual dentist (there was only 1 of them rostered on) to make a judgement call on her treatment. But then a technician actually did the work.

ETA: I should add that that this was in the ACT where there is a shortage of most types of medical/allied health professionals, so maybe that's the reason they use technicians - because they just couldn't get enough staff otherwise.

[Mildez]

Although it was 20yrs ago I lost a lot of my back teeth and have spent an absolute fortune on my front teeth to keep them from damage done from school dentists and I know I am not the only one. I am sure times have changed but unless just for a check up I wouldn't let anyone but a trusted dentist do any work to my children's teeth. Teens are eligible for a voucher but that is only $180 so doesn't cover a lot and not much help if your children are younger. Where I work there is a community dentist but I am not so sure about that either. I know they are fond of removing baby teeth that are mildly decayed and could be repaired which is all good and well but then can create a crowding problem if back permanent molars come forward before the front teeth fall out and are replaced with adult teeth which then can cause a need for extensive orthodontic work years later when the front teeth come through all over the place. Sometimes the cheaper quick fix now can create all sorts of nightmares later.

[*Efjay*]

Although it was 20yrs ago I lost a lot of my back teeth and have spent an absolute fortune on my front teeth to keep them from damage done from school dentists and I know I am not the only one. I am sure times have changed but unless just for a check up I wouldn't let anyone but a trusted dentist do any work to my children's teeth. Teens are eligible for a voucher but that is only $180 so doesn't cover a lot and not much help if your children are younger. Where I work there is a community dentist but I am not so sure about that either. I know they are fond of removing baby teeth that are mildly decayed and could be repaired which is all good and well but then can create a crowding problem if back permanent molars come forward before the front teeth fall out and are replaced with adult teeth which then can cause a need for extensive orthodontic work years later when the front teeth come through all over the place. Sometimes the cheaper quick fix now can create all sorts of nightmares later.

THIS... I took my kids to the Dental school at the Uni up here & while they were wonderful (and free) they referred 2 of my kids tot he "school"dentist as they need a G/A for some work. The School Dentist told me that they only do extractions under a G/A and when I questioned the complications of removing baby teeth rather then filling she said "we kind of just accept that there will be a need for orthodontic work down the track" !! So needless to say I am looking a finding a decent private one who will cater for my kids special needs while doing the most appropriate treatment.