Your Child’s First Visit

The first dental visit should be at or around your child’s first birthday or upon the eruption of their first tooth. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and the staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less you say concerning the visit, the better.

It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”, “pull”, “drill” or “hurt”. The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.

Parents are welcome to accompany their child for their first visit. We are all highly experienced in helping children overcome anxiety; we will even allow them to sit in the parent’s lap if necessary. During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome apprehension. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.

When & What Is My Child's First "Regular" Visit?

We will begin with a thorough risk assessment and identify any risk factors that could leave your child prone to dental disease or a malocclusion (improper bite). Developing tooth decay, gum disease, or adverse habits such as thumb sucking are just some of the conditions that will have an adverse affect on the oral health of your child. We will gently examine your child's teeth and gums . X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child's permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child's teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child's teeth and make dietary and treatment recommendations if necessary.

What can I do as a pregnant mother to help my child’s teeth?

The teeth begin to form between the third and sixth months of pregnancy. Good health habits are important for the development of the unborn child. Unless a physician recommends otherwise, pregnant women should remember to consume dairy products, which are the best source for calcium, the main building block for bones and teeth. Pregnant mothers should not avoid routine visits to their dentist because it has been shown that periodontal disease is a risk factor for low birth weight and premature birth of infants.