Many family dentists may tell parents not to bring children to their practice before they have all their primary teeth (usually at age 2 or 3). Sometimes, it is recommended to wait until age6. The parent of a fearful or uncooperative child may be told that the first dental appointment would have to be postponed until the child is old enough to sit still. However, under unfavorable circumstances, delay of dental care can lead to catastrophic disease progression that is not in the best interest of the child.
The AAPD recommends an initial postnatal oral evaluation within six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth and no later than twelve months of age. This means a child should have their first dental visit at their first birthday!
One important aspect of this visit is to discuss the child's risk of developing oral and dental disease. In high risk cases, this may be as early as three months. Dental decay in children can progress very rapidly.
Our dentists will also evaluate the child's oral and dental development. Questions regarding the amount of teeth that should be present at a certain age will be addressed. The dentist will also evaluate the need for fluoride supplementation and discuss non-nutritive habits (finger sucking, pacifier), injury prevention, oral hygiene, and effects of diet on the dentition.
