Oral Health

There are many good reasons for promoting oral health in young children and adults. Good oral health is an essential part of general health and wellbeing.  The “first or primary” teeth are important for young children to develop their eating ability, speech patterns, and appearances and later to guide the eruption and position of their permanent teeth. 

Improvements in oral health have improved over the last two decades. Several factors, including water fluoridation the use of fluoride toothpaste and the increase availability of dental services have contributed to improvements. (DHS 2000).

Eat Well, Drink Well, and Play Well

Key Clean Well Messages 

  • Clean your teeth at least twice a day after meals
  • Brush gently and thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste and soft compact head toothbrush 
  • Use a low fluoride toothpaste from two to six years of age unless otherwise recommended by a dental professional 
  • An adult should assist a young child to brush

Key Eat Well Messages

  • Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods 
  • If you eat sugary foods and sweets, limit there in take – especially between meals 
  • Enjoy health snacks 

Key Drink Well Messages

  • Drink plenty of tap water – especially if fluoridated 
  • If you drink acidic and sugary drinks such as soft drink, sports drinks, cordials and fruit juices, limit their consumption and frequency 
  • Milk and flavoured milks are preferable to other sugary drinks 
  • Baby bottles should only contain expressed milk, infant formula or water 
  • Introduce a cup to an infant by 6-8 months.

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Community dental services

Banyule City Council supports quality dental care by partnering with Banyule Community Health Services (BCHS) and Dental Health Services Victoria. (DHSV).

BCHS and DHSV provides dental examinations and treatment for the community and DHSV provides various resources and educational pamphlets for the community

Pre Schoolers
The Early Childhood Oral Health Program provides dental examinations, familiarisation sessions and dental treatment, for toddlers and pre school aged children at the West Heidelberg site. The dental service is available daily Monday to Friday and can be accessed by ringing the dental receptionist on 9450 2000 to make an appointment. Waiting list criteria do not apply to children 0 – 5 years, the service is free of charge for Pension Card or Health Care Card holders. There is a fee of $27 per course of care for non card holders. Phone 9450 2000.

Community
 The Community Dental Services at Banyule Community Health Services provides general and emergency dental treatment to pensioners, health care card holders and their dependents older than Year 8 at school.

Location of Service
21 Alamein Road, West Heidelberg 3081
Phone: 9450 2000; Fax 9459 5808

Hours of Operation
8.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Eligibility Criteria
Pensioners, Health Care Card holders, and dependents of Pension and Health Care Card holders from year 9 onwards at school. Pre-school Dental Services are free of cost to all preschool children of Health Care Card holders.

Cost to clients
Co-payment applies – General Care $21-80 per course of treatment, Dentures approx $50-200, Emergency care – $21 per treatment, Preschool dental care incurs a co-payment of $27.00 per course of care to children of non-Health Care Card holders. $10 fee for cancelled appointments if less than 24 hours notice given.

How to make an appointment
Ring 9450 2000. Clients must place their name on the waiting list for general care and dentures. Emergency appointments are made no more than 24 hours in advance.

Banyule Community Health Services website: http://www.bchs.org.au/html/dental.html

Additional useful websites

Dental Health Services Victoria
http://www.dhsv.org.au/content.asp?z=4&c=52&p=132