Baby’s First Dental Visit
Talk to a dentist about scheduling your baby’s first dental visit. It is a good idea for your child’s first dental visit to occur within six months after the first tooth erupts, but no later than the first birthday. Although this may seem early, a dentist can show you how to properly clean your child’s teeth, check for problems such as dental decay, and offer advice on your child’s diet and pacifier use. You should consider this a well-baby dental checkup for your child.
Having a well-baby checkup at this age connects your child to a dental home. This is a “home base” for dental care, a place where you can take your child from year to year. This helps the dentist get to know your child’s and your family’s specific needs, so he or she can provide the best care.
During your child’s first visit, we will teach you proper gum and tooth care for babies.
If your child is older, this visit may include a full exam of the teeth, gums, jaws, bite, and oral tissues. And if needed, the dentist might gently clean your child’s teeth to remove plaque, tartar, and stains.
After meeting you and your child, we will:
Explain each step of the checkup
Show the tools we will be using
Use a model to explain cavities
Show your child how to brush properly
Demonstrate any procedures that we are doing
Count and examine your child’s teeth
Clean and polish your child’s teeth