A first dental visit in Bacchus Marsh, at their pace.
Whether your child has one brand-new tooth or is seven and has never been, their first visit to our Gisborne Road clinic is about getting to know us. They meet the team, try the chair and decide how much they're ready for. Anything more can wait for another day.
Maybe your child is nervous. Maybe you are — plenty of parents still remember dreading the dentist themselves. Or maybe a visit somewhere else didn't go well, and booking again keeps slipping down the list. If any of that sounds familiar, this page is for you.
Children don't suddenly become "ready" for the dentist at a set age. What makes the difference is how the first visit feels. A calm first appointment sets the tone for the ones that follow. Plenty of families start early: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14, reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (updated August 2026), found most children aged 5–14 (57%) had made their first dental visit before age 5. It also found around 4 in 10 children aged 5–10 (42%) had already had decay in their baby teeth, so those small teeth are worth looking after from the start.
So at Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh we keep it slow on purpose. Most of a first visit is introduction: meeting the team, looking at the little mirror and the chair, and letting your child choose how much happens on the day.
The more you both know before you arrive, the easier it is to walk in. Here's what to expect.
A first visit, kept small.
What it is.
A gentle introduction your child is in charge of. They can sit in the chair, see the tools up close, and let us count their teeth if they're happy to. We'll talk with you about brushing, snacks and what to expect as their teeth change.
What it isn't.
A treatment day, a checklist, or a test your child has to pass. If all they manage is sitting in the chair, that's a good first visit — and we'll build from there next time.
Eight small steps, nothing more.
Most first visits take about 30 to 45 minutes. If your child isn't ready for a step, we skip it — there's always next time.
This visit is part of our children’s dentistry in Bacchus Marsh, alongside regular check-ups and bulk-billed eligible care for CDBS families.
Arrive and settle.
Check in at reception and give your child a few minutes to take in the new place before we come to say hello. There's no rush to get started.
A friendly chat first.
We sit down with you both and ask how your child is feeling, what they already know about the dentist, and whether anything is worrying them.
Meet the chair.
Your child can look at the chair, climb in (on your lap, if they'd like), and see how it moves up and down. For an anxious child, getting to know the chair first can make a big difference.
Show and tell.
We show them the little mirror, the air puffer and the toothbrush, let them touch each one, and explain what it does in words that make sense to them.
A count of the teeth.
When your child is ready, we gently count their teeth with the mirror and look at how they're coming through. If they're not ready, we don't push.
A polish, only if they want one.
Older children may be offered a soft polish, always with their permission. Your child has the final say over what happens today.
Your turn for questions.
We talk with you about brushing, fluoride toothpaste, snacks and habits like thumb-sucking, and what's normal for your child's age. No question is too small.
Home on a good note.
We finish while it's still going well, so the visit your child remembers is an easy one. Before you go, we'll suggest when to come back.
Nervous is normal. Tell us early.
If your child worries about new places, has sensory needs, or had a tough visit somewhere else, let us know — when you book, when you arrive, or halfway through. Whatever suits you.
It helps us plan. We might book a longer appointment, skip the bib, go more slowly, or have you sit in the chair first. Parents can stay close, or step back if their child would like a little independence.
"We don't rush appointments or use words that might create unnecessary worry." That's how our Bacchus Marsh team approaches every child who comes to see us.
What helps before the visit. And what doesn't.
You don't need weeks of rehearsal. A short, relaxed chat a day or two before is usually enough. Here's what tends to work — and what's worth leaving out.
Try these.
- Mention the visit a day or two ahead, briefly. "We're going to meet a dentist who'll count your teeth."
- Read a picture book about going to the dentist together.
- Play "open wide" at home and take turns being the dentist.
- Let them bring their own toothbrush or a favourite toy.
- Brush together morning and night so the routine feels familiar.
- Choose a morning appointment if that's when your child is freshest.
Skip these.
- Words like needle, drill, pain or shot — even to reassure. The words plant the idea.
- Promising "it won't hurt". Promise instead that we'll always explain what we're doing first.
- Offering lollies as a reward afterwards.
- Sharing your own dentist worries in front of them. Children pick up on tone very quickly.
- A long build-up. Short and matter-of-fact works better.
- Cancelling because they say they don't want to go. A short visit just to meet us still helps.
The first few minutes matter most.
Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh is at 83 Gisborne Road, open Monday to Saturday. Give yourselves a few spare minutes so your child arrives calmly rather than in a rush.
If your child is anxious, those quiet minutes before the appointment count. By the time we come out to say hello, they've had a chance to look around and decide the place is okay.
Nothing arrives as a surprise.
The dental chair moves up and down at the press of a button, and your child is welcome to try it. We name each thing before we use it, and we introduce the instruments slowly.
Anxious children often notice the room before anything else, so we let them look around first and go from there.
A quick look at what to expect.
If your child likes to know what's coming, you can watch this together before the visit.
What a gentle first visit actually looks like.
If watching together feels like it would help, try it the night before rather than the morning of the visit. Curiosity sits better than build-up.
Four local dentists, one gentle approach.
Your child will see one of our Bacchus Marsh dentists: Dr Rachna Yadav (Principal Dentist), Dr Amolak Deep, Dr Ankita Morjaria or Dr Christian Eskander. We work with children of all ages, and we know that good early experiences matter.
If you'd like to talk before booking — about anxiety, a health condition, or anything else on your mind — call us on (03) 8001 7008. A quick chat beforehand often makes the visit itself much easier.
AHPRA registration: Dr Rachna Yadav DEN0001046139 · Dr Amolak Deep DEN0002514296 · Dr Ankita Morjaria DEN0002033944 · Dr Christian Eskander DEN0002607690
What parents ask us first.
Putting off a first visit for another six months rarely makes it easier. Your child is simply six months older the first time they sit in the chair.
An easy first visit tends to make the next one easier too. That's why we've laid everything out here — not to rush you into booking, but to make the decision feel smaller.
When you're ready, call us or book online. We'll take it from there.
Book when they're ready.
Book a first visit at Magical Smiles Bacchus Marsh, or call first if you'd like to talk it through. No pressure, and no rush.