Pediatric Dentistry
Your Child’s First Visit
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) now recommend that your child see a dentist upon eruption of their first tooth, or by age 1. By seeing children at an early age, we are able to examine children to make sure that all dental structures are developing normally. More importantly this allows us to speak with the parent to discuss diet and hygiene and to discuss prevention. Children that begin early, tend to have lower rates of decay because the child is less averse to the dental setting, parents are better educated, and early intervention (when necessary) can be accomplished, so areas of concern do not become major problems later.
What Happens at My Child’s First Visit?
Your child’s first visit is very important to us!!! Your child will always be placed with a pediatric dentist for their first visit, not a hygienist. This is important to us because this is your child’s first exposure in a dental setting and we want to make it an enjoyable one. We will assess your child’s oral and overall health, and speak one-on-one with parents to discuss diet, hygiene, dental development, and address any questions a parent may have.
Their visit will depend a bit on their age and cognitive level. Every child receives a thorough examination, but from there we treat each child as an individual and adjust the appointment from there. Just as each child is different, each initial dental visit is different. Our goal is to provide your child with a positive experience, while educating parents.