Happier, healthier smiles start here.

From mouth breathing and thumb sucking to crowded teeth, broken sleep and stubborn dummy habits - The Face Place gives you a clear path forward.

You're in the right place if...

  • Your child is stuck in a thumb sucking or dummy habit and you’re at your wit's end.

  • You’ve already seen an ENT for mouth breathing or sleep concerns… but still feel like something’s missing.

  • Your child doesn’t have gaps between their baby teeth and “start saving for braces” doesn’t feel like enough of an answer.

  • Your child has tongue, lip or cheek ties and you're overwhelmed by conflicting opinions.

  • You're sick of being told "less sugar, more fluoride" is the answer to your child's tooth decay.

  • You've got a mental list of things that don't seem right with your child's mouth and you need someone to put it all together.

What We Do

At The Face Place, we look at how breathing, tongues, sleep, and dental development are connected, instead of treating them as separate issues.

Our role is to help little mouths and muscles work better, support healthier habits, and give you clear, personalised next steps for your child.

What kind of support do you need?

Holistic dental practitioner providing online oral health support for families during a virtual consultation on a laptop.

Oral Function

Personalised strategies for children with crowded teeth, mouth breathing, disrupted sleep, thumb sucking, or a dummy habit that’s proving hard to shift.
Close-up of hands holding a dental model used to explain children’s oral health, teeth alignment and hygiene education.

Dental Health

Holistic support for tooth decay, dental product choices, and navigating dental treatment for children.
Stack of dental and airway health books with a dental model on top, representing evidence-based learning and free oral health guides for parents.

Resources

A library of digital tools with practical information, clear guidance, and simple ways to support your child at home.

The face behind The Face Place

Holistic dental practitioner smiling and holding a dental model to demonstrate children’s oral health and development education.

Mel Van Schelven AHPRA Registered Dental Practitioner

Mel plays detective with children’s sleep and breathing, trains tongues, and gives families the time and support they need.

With a background in dental practices and a bigger-picture view of oral function and child development, she helps families feel clear about what to do next.

Three membership and certification badges displayed on a green background: Holistic Kids Provider, Munchee U Certified, and Spot Life Neurodiversity Affirming.

Tired of joining the dots in your head at 2am?

You don’t have to keep guessing, Googling, or waiting for someone to take your concerns seriously.