First Dental Visit?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends parents schedule a “well-baby” appointment with a pediatric dentist about six months after the first tooth appears, or by the child’s first birthday.
This early visit is crucial and First Dental Visit because infant and toddler tooth decay rates have increased recently. Untreated tooth decay and cavities can cause severe pain and lead to poor oral health later in childhood.
Pediatric dentists specialize in child psychology and behavior. They offer valuable information, help, and guidance. These experts can suggest ways to stop habits like pacifier use and thumb sucking, and help establish good daily oral routines.
What potential dental problems can babies experience?
Babies risk tooth decay as soon as their first tooth emerges. During the initial visit, the dentist will help parents protect their child’s teeth and demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. Infants who drink sugary liquids from bottles or sippy cups face a high risk of cavities.
To combat this, dentists advise against filling cups with sugary drinks, dipping pacifiers in honey, or sharing utensils with the child.
The dentist will also assess the infant’s fluoride intake. Too much fluoride between ages one and four can cause fluorosis later, while too little may leave tooth enamel vulnerable to decay.
What happens during the first visit?
Pediatric dentists have fun-filled, stimulating dental offices. All dental personnel are fully trained to communicate with infants and young children.
During the initial visit, the pediatric dentist will advise parents to implement a good oral care routine, ask questions about the child’s oral habits, and examine the child’s emerging teeth. The pediatric dentist and parent sit knee-to-knee for this examination to enable the child to view the parent at all times. If the infant’s teeth appear stained, the dentist may clean them. Oftentimes, a topical fluoride treatment will be applied to the teeth after this cleaning.
What questions may the pediatric dentist ask during the first visit?
The pediatric dentist will ask questions about current oral care, diet, the general health of the child, the child’s oral habits, and the child’s current fluoride intake. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook!
Once answers to these questions have been established, the pediatric dentist can advise parents on the following issues:
- Accident prevention.
- Adding xylitol and fluoride to the infant’s diet.
- Choosing an ADA approved, non-fluoridated brand of toothpaste for the infant.
- Choosing an appropriate toothbrush.
- Choosing an orthodontically correct pacifier.
- Correct positioning of the head during tooth brushing.
- Easing the transition from sippy cup to adult-sized drinking glasses (12-14 months).
- Eliminating fussing during the oral care routine.
- Establishing a drink-free bedtime routine.
- Maintaining good dietary habits.
- Minimizing the risk of tooth decay.
- Reducing sugar and carbohydrate intake.
- Teething and developmental milestones.
If you have further questions or concerns about the timing or nature of your child’s first oral checkup, please ask your pediatric dentist.
