Kids' dentistry in Jersey: what's free, what isn't

The early years: the hospital service

For children of primary school age and younger, dental treatment is available through the Dental Department at Jersey General Hospital. It's a genuine safety net for check-ups and treatment in the early years — use it.

Secondary age: the Jersey Dental Scheme

Once children start secondary school, their care transfers to a private dentist, and the Jersey Dental Scheme helps bridge the cost: a monthly fee, set with your chosen dentist, covering routine treatment — including scaling and polishing — until the end of full-time education. It's genuinely useful, but note what it is: a paid monthly plan for routine care, not free dentistry.

The gap: prevention

Neither route funds what stops problems in the first place — regular hygienist care and proper brushing coaching. Decay and gum problems are overwhelmingly preventable, and the habits are set young. That's the gap the Harbour Crew Plan closes: every child under 18 in a member family is free, with two check-ups a year and an annual hygiene session with brushing coaching included, plus same-day cover for playground accidents.

What to do, by age

First tooth to five: register early, brush twice daily with a smear-to-pea of fluoride toothpaste, keep sugary drinks to mealtimes. Five to eleven: use the hospital service, ask about fissure sealants on new adult molars. Eleven to eighteen: don't let the scheme transfer become a gap year — and get a custom mouthguard before rugby season, not after the first knock.

Scheme details change — check the current position on gov.je or ask us at your consultation.