Pediatric Dentistry in Dubai

Key facts

• Who sees children: our general dentists (see below).
• Recommended first visit: AAPD and NHS guidance is when the first tooth appears and no later than the first birthday.
• Opening hours: every day, 10:00–20:00, on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Why baby teeth deserve real dentistry

It is tempting to think of baby teeth as disposable — they fall out anyway, so why treat them? In reality, they hold space for the adult teeth developing underneath, guide the jaws as they grow, and shape how a child chews, speaks and smiles. The AAPD describes them as forming the path the adult teeth follow. Some baby molars stay until the pre-teen years. One lost early to decay can let neighbouring teeth drift into the gap, creating crowding that may later need orthodontic treatment; untreated decay can also mean pain, infection and missed school days.

Your child's first dental visit

Early visits are mostly about familiarity and advice; treatment is rarely needed. A first visit typically involves:

• A look at the teeth, gums and bite. Toddlers are often examined on a parent's lap, and many dentists use a "knee-to-knee" position, with the child lying back from the parent's lap towards the dentist.
• A check for early decay, such as chalky white lines along the gum.
• Advice on brushing, toothpaste, bottles and dummies, and sometimes fluoride varnish.

Many dentists who see children use a "tell-show-do" approach: they name each instrument, show it, then use it, so nothing comes as a surprise. Help by booking a time when your child is usually rested, reading a picture book about the dentist, and using neutral words — "it won't hurt" can plant the idea that it might.

Caring for baby teeth at home

Care starts before the first tooth: the AAPD suggests cleaning a baby's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or a clean damp cloth. Once teeth appear, NHS guidance on fluoride toothpaste is:

Brush for about two minutes, last thing at night and once more during the day, and teach children to spit out rather than rinse, so the fluoride stays on the teeth. The AAPD advises putting nothing but water in a bedtime bottle and avoiding feeding a child to sleep, because milk or juice pooling around the teeth overnight can cause early decay.

In Dubai's heat it is easy for children to sip juice, fizzy drinks or sports drinks all day, bathing young enamel in sugar and acid; water between meals, with sweet drinks kept to mealtimes, is an easy swap.

Teething

The NHS says most babies start teething at around six months, though some start before four months and some after 12. Common signs are sore, red gums, extra dribbling, a flushed cheek, chewing on everything and disturbed sleep. According to the NHS, teething may raise a baby's temperature slightly, but not to 38°C, and there is no evidence that it causes diarrhoea; a higher temperature or diarrhoea needs medical advice.

For comfort, the NHS suggests a teething ring cooled in the fridge (never the freezer, and never tied around the neck), gently rubbing the gums with a clean finger, and sugar-free children's paracetamol (from 2 months) or ibuprofen (from 3 months) at the dose on the pack. It notes there is little evidence that teething gels work.

Sealants and fluoride varnish

• Fissure sealants are a thin plastic coating painted into the grooves of the back teeth so food and bacteria cannot settle there. The NHS says sealants can be applied once the adult back teeth start to come through, usually at about six or seven and again between 11 and 14, and that a sealant lasts up to four years. The tooth is typically cleaned, dried, coated and set with a curing light, without injections or drilling.
• Fluoride varnish is a high-fluoride coating painted onto baby or adult teeth to strengthen the enamel. The NHS advises offering it at least twice a year from age three, and more often for children at higher risk of decay.

Your dentist will suggest either based on decay risk.

Common problems in children

• Early childhood decay. Often starts as chalky white bands along the gum line of the upper front teeth, then turns brown. Caught early, it can sometimes be stopped with fluoride; an established cavity usually needs a filling.
• Badly broken-down baby molars. A dentist may recommend a preformed stainless steel crown, which covers the tooth until it falls out naturally, or removal with a space maintainer to hold the gap open.
• Erosion. Acidic drinks soften enamel, leaving teeth glassy-looking or sensitive.
• Crowding and bite problems. Between about six and eight, as the adult front teeth and first molars arrive, your dentist can check jaw development and suggest an orthodontic assessment if needed.

Thumb-sucking and dummies

Thumb, finger and dummy sucking are normal comfort habits. The ADA says children usually stop between the ages of two and four, or by the time the adult front teeth are ready to come through. After that, sucking can affect how the teeth line up and the shape of the roof of the mouth, and vigorous sucking does more harm than a thumb resting passively. Dummies have similar effects but are often an easier habit to break.

Praise the times your child does not suck, comfort the worry behind it, and try a sock over the hand at night. If the habit persists, your dentist may suggest a habit-breaking appliance.

Children's dental emergencies

• Knocked-out baby tooth: most dentists advise against putting it back, because replanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Press gently to stop the bleeding and have a dentist check the area.
• Knocked-out adult tooth: the AAPD advises holding the tooth by the crown rather than the root and trying to put it back in the socket. If that is not possible, keep it in milk and take your child to a dentist immediately.
• Chipped tooth: keep any fragments in milk and book promptly.
• Toothache: the AAPD suggests a warm salt-water rinse, a cold compress for swelling and children's paracetamol for pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums, then seeing a dentist as soon as possible. The NHS says children under 16 should not be given aspirin.

Facial swelling with fever, or a head injury, needs urgent medical care first. Paradise Dental Clinic offers emergency appointments during opening hours.

Signs your child should see a dentist

• White, brown or black spots on the teeth
• Pain when eating, drinking or brushing
• Swelling, a pimple on the gum or a bad taste in the mouth
• Gums that bleed when brushed
• A tooth that darkens after a knock, loosens early or is very late to come through
• A thumb or dummy habit continuing as the adult front teeth arrive

Who treats children here

Children are seen by our five DHA-licensed general dentists: Dr. Abdulrhman Zakarnah, Dr. Saif Ali, Dr. Leylah Sedghi, Dr. Aseel Awad and Dr. Sireen Sharim, all also Invisalign Certified Providers. They are general dentists rather than paediatric specialists. Children with complex medical needs, or who need treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic, may be referred to a specialist paediatric dentist. Each dentist's profile is on our team page.

Cost and insurance

The cost depends on how many teeth need sealants or fillings, whether X-rays are needed, and whether a badly broken tooth needs a crown rather than a filling. The cost table above gives indicative ranges; our price list covers other treatments.

In the UAE, dental cover is often an add-on to health insurance, with an annual dental limit and co-payments. Check-ups, cleaning and fluoride are often treated differently from fillings and crowns, and orthodontic treatment is frequently limited or excluded. Ask whether larger treatment needs pre-approval, and bring your child's Emirates ID and insurance card. If you pay and claim back, insurers usually ask for an itemised invoice.

Sources

• NHS: Children's teeth
• NHS: Baby teething symptoms
• ADA MouthHealthy: Thumbsucking
• AAPD: Parent frequently asked questions