In children’s dentistry, there is certainly a place for general dentists and dental therapists, whose role includes attending for checkups, routine cleans, fissure sealants and small cavities. However, there may also be good reasons to see or be referred to a paediatric specialist also known as a paedodontist. 

One reason is to simply know you are consulting the highest qualified clinician available. Other reasons may be if your child suffers from severe overcrowding of their teeth, any oral injury, problems with taking care of their own dental hygiene at home, visible decay at a young age (2, 3 or 4), more than one serious cavity, severe toothache, swelling of the gums or cheeks, or fear of the dentist or any other special needs in the behavioural arena.

Our paediatric dentist often works in seamless collaboration with our specialist orthodontists in cases where correction to the position of the teeth is required.

Dr Charmaine Hall, BDSc (Melb), DClinDent (Melb) graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Science from University of Melbourne in 2001, and, since completing her doctorate in Clinical Paediatric Dentistry at the Melbourne Dental School has worked as both a registrar and a fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne.

As a specialist paediatric dentist, Dr Hall provides comprehensive care, with special interests in inherited and acquired developmental conditions, dental trauma, dental treatment for medically compromised children and management of oral disease during early childhood (including early childhood caries).

Dr Hall is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry and the Australian Dental Association, and is on the Advisory Committee for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Dr Heshani Kellapatha BDS (Adel), BScDent (Hons), DClinDent (Melb) is a graduate of The University of Adelaide, where she obtained a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours, and The University of Melbourne, where she completed her Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry in Paediatric Dentistry.

Having spent several years working in rural Victoria, Heshani was employed by the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne as a general dentist.  She has trained in all areas of paediatric dentistry, and has a particular interest in the care of medically compromised patients, dental trauma and the management of dental anomalies.

Heshani is currently involved in teaching dental students at the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry and the Australian Dental Association.