With the health and wellbeing of a child always at the foremost of any parents’ focus, adults will naturally start to wonder when the best time is to take their youngster to the dentist.
If you are a new parent who is curious about when a child’s first dental visit should be, or perhaps you have questions regarding the arrival of a child’s first tooth, addressing these issues as early as possible will help to prevent your dental specialist from having to correct any problems in the future.
A number of kid’s dentistry experts believe that a parent should start taking their child to the dentist on their first birthday, although the general rule of thumb is generally just after their first teeth appear.
Between 4-6 years of age, your child should have X-rays taken to examine teeth development and bone structure. Because children aged 6 years and over are prone to molar cavities (due to drinking soda and/or eating candy), it is essential that parents take their youngsters to the dentist consistently.
The earlier you introduce a child to the family dental office, the more comfortable they will be visiting on successive occasions, especially since the noisy machinery will initially seem so terrifying. Consequently, a child’s first dentist appointment should be as short as possible, perhaps nothing more than a passing opportunity to get them acclimatized to the setting and the members of staff who will be regularly seeing them in the coming years. At this time, no actual dental work needs to be done; in essence, this is nothing more than a simple icebreaker.
Toddlers
When it comes to a toddler’s first dentist visit, it is encouraged that they see a specialized pediatric dental specialist who has been specifically trained to handle his or her behavior, especially if the child exhibits signs of fear, trauma or discomfort. In many cases, it is best for the appointment to be scheduled in the morning when they are at their most attentive and fresh-faced. For children under 3 years old, most parents tend to stand or sit with them and hold their hand. Conversely, a parent may make the conscious decision to wait in the reception area away from their child during their first proper examination, as this provides the opportunity for the dentist to develop a trusting and more dependable relationship with their new patient.
Kids Care Dental understand how stressful your children’s first round of dental visits may be, which is why our qualified orthodontics team endeavors to create a fun and tranquil environment for kids all over Northern California to visit. Dedicated to healthy, happy smiles, we have offices in Natomas, Stockton, Calvine, Folsom, Sacramento, Elk Grove and more. If you would like to book an appointment with us, our skilled Kids Care team would be proud to work our magic in relation to your child’s first dental visit!
Please contact us today for more information about our kid-friendly pediatric dental services.