Your First Visit
When to Visit
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has recommended that children first see the dentist six months after the first tooth erupts, or no later than their first birthday.
Schedule Your First Visit
Contact us and we can schedule your child's first dental visit as soon as possible. Be sure to download and print the following forms to speed up your visit:
Establishing a "Dental Home"
One of the most important aspects of adopting the "dental well child visit" is the value of establishing a dental home, where there is an established relationship between the dentist and the family. Establishing a dental home for children at a very young age can provide preventive care beginning with the child's first tooth.
The dental home enables the dentist to provide the following:
- Provide education relevant to the child's age.
- Gives the family a place to turn if they have a question about oral health or if the child sustains a oral injury and needs immediate attention.
- Allows a place for immediate attention other than the hospital emergency room which can become very stressful and costly. This emergency room experience could likely characterize the child's first dental experience with pain and anxiety rather than a benign examination.
- May reduce the amount of dental treatment they will need in the long run.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of children have cavities (also called dental caries) by the time they reach kindergarten, and dental problems can begin in children as young as 15 months. Also, recent studies have shown that tooth decay in young children's baby teeth is on the rise.
A one-year-old child is much more manageable than apprehensive three-year-old. It is much easier to do a quick exam and educate parents on oral hygiene for a one-year-old than treat an uncooperative three-year-old with dental caries. The focus on the dental well child visit is to very easily examine the infant and educating the parent.
The infant's first visit to the dentist should be a pleasant experience that will positively influence the child's attitudes about future oral health care.
What is the purpose of the first dental visit?
Integrating infant patients into the practice enables the doctor and staff to collect valuable information about the child and the family and enables the team to develop an early intervention and prevention system.
What can you expect prior to the first dental visit?
Parents can expect to complete a questionnaire prior to the first visit. It includes the following information:
- Biographic Data and Family and Social History
- Prenatal and Neonatal History
- Development History
- Medical History
- Dental History
- Feeding History
What can you expect at the first dental visit?
An examination on a one-or two-year-old child doesn't involve a lot of teeth and can be done very quickly. Very few children need to have their teeth cleaned at that age. However, an actual cleaning can be done while demonstrating oral hygiene to parents.
The most effective and comfortable position for patient, parent, and dentist is the "knee-to-knee" position. The dentist and parent sit opposite each other with knees touching. The child sits on the parents lap facing them with their legs embracing the parent. The child then lies backward until the head rests in the dentist's lap while the parent holds the patient's hands. This position allows the child to see and fell the parent while the dentist performs the examination with minimal restraint. The position allows for excellent visualization of the oral cavity by both the parent and dentist.