Paediatric Dentists at Collins Street Specialist Centre Melbourne

Overview

Paediatric dentistry at Collins Street Specialist Centre is a specialized dental service dedicated exclusively to the oral health and dental care of children from infancy through young adulthood (ages 0-18 years). This specialty combines advanced clinical expertise with comprehensive understanding of child development and behavioral management techniques, recognizing that evidence-based protocols for pediatric care differ significantly from those used in adult dentistry.

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Key Features and Specifications

Location and Facilities

Paediatric dentistry services are located on Level 8 of the Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD. The paediatric dental suites are specifically designed as calm, welcoming environments that accommodate children's unique needs and developmental stages.

Suite Specifications:

• Child-centered design with welcoming atmosphere
• Staffed by clinicians and support staff experienced in working with young patients
• Entertainment systems and comfortable surroundings to support patients with dental anxiety
• Reduced-radiation imaging modes available for pediatric patients
• Age-appropriate equipment and tools

Professional Qualifications

Every paediatric dentist at Collins Street Specialist Centre holds Specialist Paediatric Dentist registration with the Dental Board of Australia. This professional classification requires:

• Completion of approved specialist postgraduate training in paediatric dentistry
• Minimum of three to four years of full-time postgraduate university training beyond the foundational dental degree
• Specialized knowledge in:
  • Clinical dentistry for children
  • Child psychology and development
  • Behaviour management techniques
  • Management of medically and developmentally complex young patients
• Verification and registration through AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)

Verification Method: Patients can confirm specialist registration directly at www.ahpra.gov.au by searching the practitioner's name and confirming the registration type reads "Specialist Paediatric Dentist."

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Specialist Paediatric Dentists

Dr Angel Babu

Qualifications and Experience:

• Specialist clinical doctorate (DClinDent) in Paediatric Dentistry from University of Otago, New Zealand
• Dual professional registration in both Australia and New Zealand
• Three years of specialized paediatric dentistry experience in New Zealand
• Current position: Senior Dental Registrar at Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

Clinical Specializations:

• Behaviour management and dental anxiety management
• Dental trauma management and complex follow-up cases
• Sleep-related dental problems
• Management of high caries risk cases
• Treatment of medically compromised and special needs children
• Molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) / chalky teeth and enamel defects
• Advanced sedation and anaesthesia services:
  • General anaesthesia (GA)
  • Oral sedation
  • Nitrous oxide (happy gas) administration

Languages: Malayalam, Hindi, and English

Dr Susan Hinckfuss

Background:

• One of the most experienced and widely respected specialist paediatric dentists in Australia
• Completed dental training in Melbourne
• Undertook specialist studies in Melbourne
• Maintains a private specialist practice in Melbourne since 2010
• Eight years of experience in general practice in Geelong, including restorative dentistry

Clinical Specialization:

• Pioneer of teddy bear therapy — an evidence-informed behavioral technique where a child's toy "goes first" to receive the same examination, tools, and procedures in play form, reducing uncertainty and fear in an age-appropriate manner
• Specialized clinical interest in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Dr Sarah Scott

Role:

• Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry at Collins Street Specialist Centre

Dr Aish Kesava (Dr Kesava)

Role:

• Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry at Collins Street Specialist Centre

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Clinical Scope of Practice

Preventive Care

• Comprehensive preventive planning for all pediatric patients
• Fissure sealants application with specialized behavioral management for children with dental anxiety or autism spectrum disorder
• First dental visits for infants and young children
• Fluoride protocols and oral hygiene guidance
• Dietary counseling focused on cavity prevention

Restorative Treatment

• Age-appropriate fillings
• Stainless steel and zirconia crowns for primary teeth
• Pulp treatment for primary teeth
• Management of childhood tooth decay (early childhood caries)
• Treatment from early white-spot lesions through to large cavities requiring crowns

Dental Trauma Management

• Assessment and management of dental injuries in children and adolescents
• Management of avulsed (knocked-out) teeth
• Management of luxated (displaced) teeth
• Management of fractured teeth
• Evidence-based protocols specific to pediatric trauma (differing from adult trauma management)
• Time-sensitive urgent assessment and follow-up care calibrated to the child's developmental stage

Behavioral Management and Anxiety Control

Behavioral Guidance Techniques:

• Tell-show-do methodology
• Distraction techniques (movies, music, entertainment systems)
• Gentle, age-appropriate communication
• Teddy bear therapy and other child-centered approaches

Pharmacological Options:

• Nitrous oxide (happy gas) administration
• Oral sedation
• General anaesthesia coordination at hospital facilities for complex cases requiring controlled conditions

Complex Case Management

• Treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Management of medically compromised children with systemic medical conditions
• Management of children with developmental concerns
• Treatment of children with special needs
• Co-management of pediatric patients with complex dental and orthodontic needs alongside orthodontists

Pathological Conditions and Growth Management

• Diagnosis and treatment of developmental dental conditions
• Management of jaw growth abnormalities
• Assessment of occlusal development
• Early identification of growth concerns and bite abnormalities through interdisciplinary collaboration with orthodontists

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Multidisciplinary Integration

The paediatric dentistry team at Collins Street Specialist Centre operates within an integrated multidisciplinary framework:

• Collaboration with Orthodontics: Early identification and management of growth concerns and bite abnormalities in children
• Collaboration with Endodontics: Coordinated management of traumatized developing teeth in children and adolescents
• Collaboration with Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery: Direct referral pathway for complex cases requiring advanced surgical intervention
• Shared Clinical Records: All specialists access the same patient records and imaging
• Coordinated Treatment Planning: Multi-specialty planning ensures sequential procedure scheduling and risk mitigation

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Patient Experience Features

Comfort-Focused Environment

• Non-invasive AirFlow cleaning technology in place of traditional ultrasonic scaling where appropriate
• Ambient lighting and natural daylight throughout treatment rooms
• Scented candles creating a calming atmosphere
• Television screens and surround sound music in every suite
• Digital scanning eliminates messy traditional impressions
• Reduced-radiation imaging modes for pediatric patients

Anxiety Management Philosophy

Paediatric specialists at Collins Street Specialist Centre recognize that:

• Dental anxiety is one of the most common barriers to children receiving necessary care
• Early dental experiences shape a child's relationship with dental care for life
• Evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological strategies are essential for anxious children
• Approximately 20% of children experience dental anxiety on a spectrum from mild reluctance to significant distress

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Referral Indications

Children may benefit from specialist paediatric dental care when presenting with:

• Dental anxiety — requiring specialized behavioral management
• Autism spectrum disorder — necessitating adapted techniques and modified environments
• Medically compromised status — systemic medical conditions requiring specialized approach
• Significant decay — early childhood caries management protecting developing permanent teeth
• Dental trauma — requiring specialized evidence-based protocols and time-sensitive management
• Complex developmental concerns — spanning multiple dental disciplines
• Special needs — cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or other developmental conditions
• Orthodontic and dental needs — complex cases requiring coordinated multi-specialty management

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Contact and Booking

Location: Level 8, Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

Phone: (03) 9650 2726

Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 8:00am–6:00pm
• Saturday: 8:30am–1:30pm

Referral Requirements: No referral is required to see a specialist paediatric dentist at Collins Street Specialist Centre. Patients are welcome to contact the centre directly or be referred by their general dentist.

Transport: Town Hall Metro Rail Station is directly opposite the Manchester Unity Building, providing excellent public transport accessibility.

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References

• [1] paediatric-hub.md
• [4] patient-experience.md
• [6] why-choose-us.md
• [8] contact-booking.md
• [10] about.md