Children’s examination
A full check of teeth, gums, development and bite with time to settle a nervous child. Under-16s with a parent or guardian.
£47.50
Family dentistry · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Children’s dentistry in Marylebone: unhurried first visits and prevention that lasts
The aim of children’s dentistry is that a child reaches adulthood with a full set of sound teeth and no fear of the dentist, and the two goals are connected: children who come early, often and for small things rarely need the big things that frighten people. At Wimpole Street children are welcome from the first tooth, seen with a parent or guardian present, and the first visits are as much about sitting in the chair and having a look as about treatment. The dental team see under-16s for examinations, fluoride varnish, fissure sealants, small fillings and orthodontic advice; the medical clinic at the same address is for adults only, so please note that medical appointments for children are not offered. A children’s examination will be £47.50, fluoride varnish £40 and sealants £65 per tooth.
- Examination £47.50
- From the first tooth
- Parent or guardian present
Suitability
Is it right for you?
A good fit when
- Babies and toddlers from the first tooth or first birthday, to get used to the setting and check development.
- Children starting school, when the first adult molars appear and sealants and varnish do most good.
- A child with a brown or white mark on a tooth, a chipped front tooth from a fall, or a wobbly tooth that is not coming out.
- Nervous children or those who have had a difficult experience elsewhere; extra time is built in.
- Older children and teenagers wanting advice on crowding, gaps or the timing of orthodontic treatment.
- Families who would like everyone seen at the same visit.
Think twice, or choose another route, when
- Children needing treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic, who are referred to a specialist paediatric or hospital service.
- Medical appointments for under-16s; the medical clinic at Wimpole Street sees adults only.
- Complex orthodontic problems needing a specialist, for which a referral is arranged.
- A child attending without a parent or legal guardian, as consent must be given in person.
The process
How it works at Wimpole Street
- 01
Settling in
The first minutes are spent talking, showing the chair, the light and the mirror, and letting the child set the pace. Very young children may sit on a parent’s lap.
- 02
Examination
Teeth are counted and checked for decay, wear, chips and development; gums and soft tissues are looked at; and the way the teeth meet is noted. Radiographs are only taken when there is a specific reason.
- 03
Prevention
Fluoride varnish is painted on at most visits from about age three. Fissure sealants are recommended for adult molars as they come through. Brushing is demonstrated on the child’s own teeth.
- 04
Talking to parents
Diet, particularly how often sugar is eaten rather than how much, bottle and dummy habits, thumb sucking and the right toothpaste strength for the age are discussed plainly.
- 05
Treatment, if needed
Small cavities are filled with tooth-coloured material, often with a numbing gel and sometimes without an injection. Anything larger is planned over more than one visit so trust is not lost.
- 06
Recall
Most children are seen every six months, more often if decay risk is high. Orthodontic development is monitored from around seven onwards.
Choices
Options & materials
Fluoride varnish
Painted on in a couple of minutes, twice a year from about age three, to harden enamel and cut decay.
£40
Fissure sealants
A resin coating for the grooves of new adult molars, placed without drilling or anaesthetic.
£65 per tooth
Children’s fillings
Tooth-coloured restorations for cavities in baby or adult teeth, sized to the cavity.
From £185
Fees
What it costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
Children’s examination Under-16s; parent or guardian must attend. | £47.50 |
Fluoride varnish Usually twice a year. | £40 |
Fissure sealant For newly erupted adult molars. | £65 per tooth |
Children’s filling Tooth-coloured composite, priced by size. | From £185 |
Radiograph Only where clinically justified. | £20 each |
Indicative Wimpole Street fees, the same as at South Kensington and St Paul's. A written plan with the exact figure is agreed before anything is started.
Outcomes
What the result looks like
The visible result of good children’s dentistry is unremarkable teeth: no fillings, or small ones, adult molars that erupted into a mouth already used to sealants and varnish, and a teenager who books their own check-up without dread. Fluoride varnish and sealants together have strong trial evidence for reducing decay in children, especially those at higher risk.
What no dentist can do is out-brush a diet. Frequency of sugar, particularly juice and snacks between meals and anything at bedtime, is the biggest single predictor of decay in children, and the conversation about it is as much a part of the appointment as the examination.
Afterwards
Looking after the result
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste of the strength advised for your child’s age, and supervise until at least seven.
- Water or milk only between meals and nothing but water after the evening brush.
- After varnish, avoid eating for thirty minutes and skip brushing that night.
- Keep the six-monthly appointments even when nothing hurts; that is the whole idea.
- If a front tooth is knocked, keep any fragment or the tooth itself in milk and ring straight away.
Informed consent
Risks and honest limitations
Every treatment has trade-offs. These are the ones we discuss at the consultation so that a decision is made with full information rather than after the fact.
- A child who has an unpleasant first experience may resist future visits, which is why early appointments are kept short and low-key.
- Baby teeth with deep decay can abscess and occasionally need removing early, which may affect spacing for the adult teeth.
- Radiographs carry a very small radiation dose and are taken only with clear justification.
- Fluoride varnish can cause brief nausea if swallowed in quantity; the amount used is small.
- Not every problem, particularly orthodontic, should be treated immediately; timing matters and we may advise waiting.
FAQ
Questions patients ask
When the first tooth appears or by the first birthday, whichever is sooner. Early visits are about familiarity and advice for parents far more than treatment.
Yes. A parent or legal guardian must accompany any child under sixteen and be present to give consent. Older teenagers may prefer to sit in the chair alone, with you in the room.
No. The medical clinic at 22 Wimpole Street sees adults only. Children are welcome for dental care.
We book extra time, go at the child’s pace and are happy for the first visit to be nothing more than a look and a count. If treatment cannot be managed in the chair, we refer to a specialist paediatric service.
Most orthodontic treatment starts once the adult teeth are through, around twelve to fourteen, but a few problems are better addressed earlier. We monitor development from about seven and advise when the time is right.
Yes. Children are seen now at South Kensington and St Paul’s at the same fees, and their records can move to Marylebone from 1 October 2026.
Keep reading
Related treatments and guides
Marylebone, W1
Children’s dentistry at Wimpole Street from 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as the Marylebone diary is live. If you would rather start sooner, the same clinicians already see patients in South Kensington and at St Paul’s.
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
