A child’s first dental visit is an important initial step in their dental health. Your child should see the dentist for the first time by age 1, or within 6 months of the emergence of the first tooth. The first dental visit is important to check your child’s mouth for problems or potential problems and begin to set your child on the course for good oral care as they grow and the teeth emerge and develop. Here is a brief look into your child’s first dental visit.
What to Expect on the First Visit
The first visit to a dentist will probably be pretty short and not involve much treatment. The purpose of the first visit is mainly to introduce your child to the dentist in a safe and friendly way, and to do a routine initial examination of your child’s teeth and mouth. It is important that a relationship be built with your child and the dentist for your child to begin to feel comfortable with dental visits. You will need to fill out medical and health information forms to create a record for your child, so arrive with the necessary information.
During the first exam, the dentist will thoroughly check your child’s existing teeth for decay, check your child’s bite, and look for any other potential problems in the gums, jaw, or other oral tissue. If any problems are detected, the dentist will clean the teeth and possibly provide a fluoride treatment. The dentist will also educate you on oral health care for children and positive oral development.
Oral Health Tips for Kids
During your child’s first dental appointment, a few important oral health topics will be discussed. These are addressed to help promote good oral hygiene from a young age. Dental checkup schedules will be an important part of this visit to set up regular 6 month checkups to monitor teeth development and correct any problems.
- Cavity prevention through good oral hygiene practices
- Fluoride needs
- Teething
- Oral habits (things like thumb sucking, lip sucking, and tongue thrusting)
- Milestones for oral development
- Proper nutrition
- Dental checkup schedules
When considering dentists and scheduling regular checkups for your child, consider the benefits of a pediatric dentist. These dentists undergo an additional two years of training beyond dental school. Pediatric dentists specialize in treating developing teeth, physical growth and development, child behavior, and specific needs of children’s dentistry. Non-pediatric dentists can address your child’s oral health care needs, but pediatric dentists are specially equipped to put your child at ease and offer the highest quality care. Find us on Facebook and schedule your child’s first dental visit with Mountain View Pediatric.