Your Child's First Dental Visit

You should take your child for a first visit to the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first appearance of a tooth.

What happens at the first dental visit?

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. Doctors may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and the dentist.

During the examination, the dentist will check all of your child’s existing teeth for decay, examine your child’s bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride. He or she will also educate parents about oral health care basics for children and discuss dental developmental issues and answer any questions.

Topics your dentist may discuss with you might include:

• Good oral hygiene practices for your child’s teeth and gums

• Cavity prevention

• Fluoride needs

• Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking)

• Developmental milestones

• Teething

• Proper nutrition

• Schedule of dental check up visits. Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child’s comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth, and to promptly treat any developing problems

It’s important to know that the parent or legal guardian who accompanies the child for this first visit will be asked to complete medical and health information forms concerning the child. Come prepared with the necessary information.