The session is set for 2.30 to 3.30pm at Yarraville Community Centre, with places limited.
Dr Bill Madytianos, a dentist and clinical lecturer in dentistry at the University of Melbourne, will lead the hour-long Healthy Smiles session. It is open to parents and carers of children aged 0 to 2.
The session will cover teething and how to establish a brushing routine. It will also address how to prevent tooth decay. Parents can ask about a child's first dental visit, and learn what to do in a dental emergency.
Madytianos said the years before school are when parents establish everyday habits that can affect children's oral health over time. He also pointed to the cost of dental care for families. Prevention and accessible oral health education, he said, can help parents feel more confident, recognise problems early and understand when professional care is needed.
Victoria's wider dental-care system includes the Smile Squad school program, which has provided free dental care to more than 175,000 children, according to Victorian Labor. Standard dental care is generally not covered by Medicare. In a separate election commitment, the Victorian government proposed investing $230 million in 10 free public dental clinics. One was promised for Geelong, with a proposed seven-day-a-week walk-in service for adults and children, as Times News Group reported.
Elsewhere, a Plymouth dental report said an initiative there had delivered 4,000 free appointments to people unable to access NHS care.
Attendees can also take home an optional pack that includes Madytianos' recently published title, Tools for Teeth.
The free session is scheduled for Thursday 12 November at Yarraville Community Centre.
