first visit
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry along with the American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental visit by age one.
First dental visits for babies are less clinical and more educational. Think of this first visit as a "well baby check" for your child's teeth. We will review brushing techniques and let you know if you need to floss your baby's teeth. One of our Pediatric Dentists will conduct a thorough oral examination and also review fluoride use, thumbsucking and pacifier habits, and your baby's feeding habits with you. The visit will also include a nutrition consultation.
We may ask you to hold your baby in your lap for the first exam. Plan to be in our office for approximately 30 minutes.
When does one plus one equal zero? ONE baby tooth + ONE pediatric dental visit = ZERO cavities. The earlier the visit, the better the chance of learning how to prevent dental disease and helping your child belong to the cavity-free generation. Also, by establishing a relationship early with us, a surprise visit will not seem as scary for your child and you will not be frantically scrambling to find a dentist after-hours should an emergency arise.
You can make your child's first visit enjoyable and positive. Tell your child in advance that they will be meeting some nice grownups that will help them take care of their teeth. For younger children, try reading some children's books before your visit or have fun role-playing, acting like you or your child are the dentist.
At your first appointment, we will review brushing and flossing techniques as well as clean and polish your child's teeth depending on their age and cooperation. X-rays may be taken and will be based on your child's age, dental development, and cavity risk. Our initial appointment also includes a nutrition and preventative consultation. If treatment is indicated, we will develop a written treatment plan and review it with you in detail, explaining our findings and recommendations.
