Why You Should Bring Your Child to the Dentist Early

For many parents of young children, going to the dentist often isn’t at the top of their list of priorities.  Others are unsure of what to expect.

Questions such as the following are very common:

• What will the dentist do to my baby on the first visit?
• Will my baby get scared and hate the dentist?
• Is there even a good reason to take my baby to the dentist?

These are excellent questions.  Hopefully the information below will give you an idea of what to expect at that first visit.

What We Do at a Baby’s First Dental Visit

We provide a dental checkup, where we can check for cavities and monitor the child’s growth and development.  If the child has recently had an injury to his/her mouth, we can answer any questions and concerns and advise you on the best way to handle it.

We clean their teeth.  While some kids will let us brush, others may not.  The important thing is that they’ve gotten the first visit out of the way and they’ll usually be more comfortable the next time they come back since they have seen our office and met us before.

We apply fluoride varnish to help guard against any tooth decay.

We go over any developmental and age-related information.  This can include information on teething, thumb sucking habits, and how to prevent injuries the their mouth.

We will  assess their oral hygiene and give you any tips on how to clean their teeth.  We will give you tips on how you can best take care of your child’s teeth.  As a member of the American Dental Association, We use the American Dental Association’s Caries Risk Assessment Form (dental speak for “How likely are you to get cavities”):

This tool gives the parent valuable insight into what you’re doing well as far as your child’s oral health and we can go over any areas that need improvement.

The Important Thing Is to Come

Our main objective of a first visit is to introduce your child to the dental environment and allow them to meet us.  Whether your child handles their first visit like a pro or arrives slightly nervous, we are happy to give them a gentle introduction to the world of oral health.