The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than one year of age. But why so early if my child’s teeth look fine? Some reasons for this include the assessment of growth and development, prevention of decay, parental education and helping your child learn to be comfortable with the dentist. We will go over four key reasons for this first and early dental visit with a pediatric dentist.
First, we assess your child to ensure that they have the appropriate dental development for their age. We can help detect problems with tooth eruption or soft tissue development. Second, decay can happen at an early age. We sometimes see cavities in children as young as one year. A regular exam and cleaning can prevent development of decay.
Next, we help parents understand what is happening with their child’s oral health. We teach about a healthy diet and good brushing and flossing habits.
Finally, we want to help your child be comfortable in the dental chair. We distract them, make it exciting and give them a toy at the end to make it a memorable experience!