Family Dentist

A family dentist sees patients across every stage of life—from toddlers having their first check-up to grandparents managing more complex dental needs. What sets a great family dental practice apart isn’t just the range of services; it’s the relationships built over years of knowing your family’s history, preferences, and concerns. At Mary-Anne Slater Dental Practice, we take time to understand each person as an individual. That means your six-year-old and your sixty-year-old parent both receive personalised, compassionate care—not a one-size-fits-all approach. Finding a family dentist in Wagga you can trust and stick with long term is genuinely worth the effort.

Yes—we welcome patients of all ages and genuinely love the variety that brings. From young children building their first relationship with dental care, to teenagers, busy adults, and older patients with more complex needs, we’re experienced across the full spectrum. We adapt our communication, our pace, and our approach depending on who we’re seeing. If you have a family member with additional needs, anxiety, or a complicated dental history, please let us know when booking—we’ll make sure we’re prepared to give them the support they deserve.

We recommend bringing your child in for their first dental visit once all the baby teeth have erupted in the mouth, which is after their third birthday. We know that might sound early, but early visits are less about treatment and more about familiarisation. Getting your child comfortable with the dental environment from a young age sets them up for a lifetime of positive experiences. It also gives us the chance to assess their development, answer your questions, and give you tailored guidance on diet, brushing, and fluoride. The first visit is usually short, gentle, and—for most kids—genuinely fun, as it finishes with a visit to the prize room to select a prize from a room full of prizes.

For most people, a check-up every twelve months is appropriate. However, some individuals benefit from more frequent visits—particularly those with a history of decay, gum disease, or orthodontic treatment, or children who are at higher risk. We’ll give you a personalised recommendation based on each family member’s specific needs rather than a blanket policy. The goal is to catch small issues before they become bigger (and more costly) ones. Regular check-ups at our Wagga family dental practice are genuinely one of the best investments your family can make in long-term health.

Absolutely—and we’d encourage it. Booking the family together makes logistics much simpler and helps build a shared positive attitude towards dental visits. When children see their parents going through check-ups calmly, it makes the whole experience feel less daunting. Chat with us when you book and we’ll do our best to schedule consecutive appointments that work with your day. We know families are busy, and we’d rather make it easy for you to come in than have scheduling become a barrier to your family’s oral health.

Dental anxiety is incredibly common and nothing to be embarrassed about—we see it every day, and we take it seriously. Our approach is patient, unhurried, and always led by what you’re comfortable with. We’ll explain what we’re doing as we go, check in with you throughout, and never push ahead with anything before you’re ready. For patients with more significant anxiety, we can discuss options like happy gas (nitrous oxide) or treatment under sedation. We’re also experienced in supporting neurodivergent patients who may experience the dental environment differently. Just let us know when you book—preparation makes a real difference.