Overseen by our specialist children’s dentist, Sondos Albadri, our paediatric service is unique in the North West region. Whereas in Europe and the USA it is common practice for children to be seen by a paediatric specialist, the UK is lagging behind in this area – which is why The Sandstone Dental Practice is delighted to offer dedicated dental services exclusively for children.
Children are treated by Dr Sarah Longridge, a dentist with a special interest in paediatric dentistry. Dr Longridge has extensive experience in helping children feel relaxed and positive about visiting the dentist.
For nervous or anxious patients, we offer inhalation sedation (happy air) — a safe and effective way to help children feel calm and comfortable during treatment.
Tooth decay and gum disease are still on the rise among children in the UK – and one reason is a lack of awareness among parents about taking their children to the dentist. At The Sandstone Dental Practice, we urge parents to bring babies for their first visit as soon as those milk teeth appear – or by the age of 1 regardless. With its DCBy1 (Dental Check By age 1) campaign, the British Society for Paediatric Dentistry has made great inroads in addressing the awareness problem surrounding children’s dentistry. Despite what you may think milk teeth are just as important as adult teeth!
In many parts of Europe and the USA, it is routine for children to be cared for by paediatric dental specialists. In the UK, this level of specialist-led care is less widely available — which makes our service truly unique in the North West region.
By combining:
We provide reassurance for parents and a positive dental experience for children.
We understand that visiting the dentist can feel a little worrying for some children. That’s why we offer inhalation sedation — often called “happy air” — to help nervous patients feel calm and relaxed during their appointment.
Inhalation sedation is a safe and gentle way to reduce anxiety. Your child breathes in a carefully controlled mix of oxygen and a mild sedative through a small, comfortable nose mask. Within a few minutes, they usually feel more relaxed, light and at ease. They stay awake the whole time, can still talk to us, and can respond to instructions — but feel much less worried about what’s happening.
The effects wear off quickly once the mask is removed, meaning your child can return to their normal activities soon after their visit.
At Sunlight Dental Practice, inhalation sedation is provided by Dr Sarah Longridge, who has extensive experience in caring for anxious children. Our priority is always to make dental visits feel positive, supportive and stress-free — helping your child build confidence for the future.
If you think your child may benefit from inhalation sedation, our team will be happy to talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
We are pleased to accept referrals for children who may benefit from inhalation sedation, behavioural support, or more complex treatment planning under specialist guidance.
Healthy smiles start young — and we’re here to support every step.
We appreciate that knowing when to bring your children to the dentist can be confusing, so we’ve put together a list of our patients most frequently asked questions for your convenience.
Even if they haven’t got any teeth, we recommend that all children are seen by a dentist before their first birthday, and this can be as simple as bringing them with you during your own check-up. This will not only eliminate any potential risks, but also establishes the dentist as a familiar and fun place to be.
Sucking is a natural reflex in a young child and a dummy may be a useful aide to help soothe your baby. The important thing is never to dip the dummy in anything sweet and never use a dummy that has juice in it.
If your child reaches the age of 5 and still sucks their thumb or fingers habitually, it may be time to start gently discouraging them, as this is the age when intensive sucking can cause speech or orthodontic problems. Your dentist should be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that prevents cavities and is highly beneficial to teeth, which is why it’s routinely added to toothpaste. At The Sandstone Dental Practice we offer children fluoride varnish, a quick and completely painless procedure that is excellent for preventing child tooth decay.
Fissure sealants are often recommended when the permanent molars erupt, and consist of a plastic seal that is smoothed over the tooth surface, preventing food getting stuck in those hard-to-brush areas.
Simply complete our digital booking form or or feel free to contact us direct using any of the details on our contact us page.
Offering the best combination of control, flexibility and access to special member privileges.
Got a question? Get in touch with Sandstone today!
Located in the heart of the Wirral peninsula, our practice has made its home in a beautiful period sandstone building with a wealth of character, along with easy access and parking. We treat our patients as we would want to be treated ourselves – with empathy, respect and compassion. Our priority is your oral health.