How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Dental Visit

Did you know that a child’s dental care should begin as soon as he has his first tooth? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends that every child see a dentist by the age of one year or when the first tooth enters the mouth. Maybe your child already has teeth. The important thing to understand is that you should not wait until your child has a problem with his or her teeth before seeing a dentist. By taking your child to consistent dental visits from an early age, you actually improve their dental health (which influences overall health) for the rest of his or her life!

What is the Purpose of the First Dental Visit?

There are multiple goals during a child’s first dental visit, and they are all quite important. All three work together to give your child the best prospects for healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime.

Introduction of Child to Dental Environment

However, we know that most children need to experience that for themselves in order to believe it. By bringing them in earlier rather than later, we are able to provide them with good dental experiences on a regular basis. This helps them form a healthy understanding of the dentist’s office and what they can expect there.

Evaluation of Teeth, Soft Tissues, and Growth

It is important to introduce your child to the dental office as early as possible. This helps children understand that routine dental visits are painless and easy. The great news is that most of your child’s dental visits will consist of evaluations by the dentist, professional teeth cleanings by skilled dental hygienists, and small “pictures” of his teeth (x-rays). Nothing should hurt or scare them. However, we know that most children need to experience that for themselves in order to believe it. By bringing them in earlier rather than later, we are able to provide them with good dental experiences on a regular basis. This helps them form a healthy understanding of the dentist’s office and what they can expect there.

Education of Parent

Perhaps the most important aspect of the child’s first dental visit is the education of the parent. We have found that in our years of treating children, many of the dental problems affecting children result from a lack of information. Parents did not know they should not let their child sleep with a sippy cup of milk. Parents did not know that they needed to brush and floss their children’s teeth.

During the first dental visit, we will give you all of the information you need to keep your child’s teeth as healthy as possible. We will show you different techniques for brushing and flossing and advise you on which products are best to use.

What Can I Expect from the First Dental Visit?

If your child is one year old or younger, you can expect a short “lap exam”, in which the dentist will recruit your participation in holding the child on your lap for the evaluation of his mouth. It is completely normal for your child to cry during this evaluation because it is unfamiliar. Any tears are not from pain, but from fear. Crying actually helps the dentist get a good look around the patient’s mouth.

The dentist will use gloved fingers to lift the lips and cheeks and feel the shape of the jaws, gums, and any underlying teeth. We do not take dental x-rays at this early age.

If your child is a bit older and able to sit in the chair on his own, then we perform the tasks that he will allow us. At the best, this will include a thorough evaluation of the teeth, gums, and jaws, small dental x-rays, and a professional teeth cleaning. In most cases, we do not take dental x-rays until age 4-5 years unless we see evidence of dental problems.

The dental hygienist spends time with you and your child instructing you both on the proper brushing and flossing techniques. The hygienist also explains the disease process of cavities to your child in a way he can understand, providing motivation for diligence in oral hygiene.

How Can I Prepare My Child for his First Dental Visit?

The most important thing you can do to prepare your child for a dental visit is to stay positive. If you are nervous or fearful, your child will be nervous or fearful. Make sure your child knows that there is nothing to be afraid of at his first visit.

You can use the information in the previous section to explain to your child what he can expect at his dental visit. You can describe your own positive experiences with the dentist or dental hygienist. If you have a good, consistent relationship with the dentist and hygienist, that will improve your child’s trust in them. If not, this is a great time for you both to get on track with consistent professional teeth cleanings and evaluations.