Dentists recommend that you bring in your child for a brief dental exam when they have first cut teeth, and especially by the time they reach their first birthday. That first visit isn’t about an exam exactly, it’s really about allowing the child an opportunity to get comfortable in the chair and about teaching parents about early oral hygiene and your role in ensuring it begins properly. Very few children will ever have a memory of this visit, but it is critical in forming positive experiences that the child’s future visits will be built upon.
Some children won’t see a dentist until they are five or six, at which time x-rays will be taken and the child will receive a thorough checkup. This is to monitor the teeth for cavities as well as to check the growth and development of underlying permanent teeth.
If your child has been going to regular dental appointments since he or she was a year old, you don’t really need to introduce your child to the family dentist. That relationship of trust and understand is well-established and need only continue naturally; however, if you’ve waited until your child is a toddler or is entering school, you will need to spend some time preparing your child for what he or she can expect during a dental visit.
Some dentists recommend that the parents hold their child in their laps when they get their first dental exam. This can be extremely comforting to the child – and reassuring to the parent!
Newport Beach family dentist Dr. Salimy knows all about fearful children and can take the necessary steps toward relaxing pediatric patients. You can trust that your family dentist is doing all that can be done toward providing your little one with all the care necessary to start off well for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
