Find out what happens during your first visit to the office! 

When to start taking your child to the dentist

The American Dental Association and Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit the dentist 6 months after the first tooth appears or around the time they turn 1 year old at the latest! Giving your child a dental home is the first step to giving them exemplary oral health. This is a crucial time for not only the developmental health and structure of your child’s mouth, but also to get your child used to visiting the dentist office. Here they can be examined and as they grow they can learn the proper techniques help keep their mouth healthy and make their smile shine.

On your first visit you can expect to gain a plethora of information regarding your child’s oral health including:

• Good mouth cleaning and tooth brushing habits for children

• Proper feeding practices and diets for infants and toddlers

• Impact of pacifiers on a toddler’s dental health

• Teething and ways to help soothe teething pain

• Baby bottles and tooth decay

If your child is old enough to understand, explain to them what will happen at the dentist and try to build excitement around the experience to help relieve any anxieties they may have.

 

What to expect: first visit

To start off we would like you to provide the complete health history of your child. Also please notify us of your behavioral child’s tendencies. When in a stressful situation are they: Fearful, Anxious, Defiant, Stubborn, etc.? Have they been uneasy in past dentist visits? We want to make the experience enjoyable and rewarding so we will work with the child to achieve that.

Once you are in the observatory room, our dental team will perform a full oral health exam. This includes an observation of their gums, teeth, jaw, bite, and includes a look into their overall health. Based on age and specific needs, we may also give your child a plaque & stain removing cleaning as well as a light polishing. If old enough, our team will also take time to ensure that the proper means of brushing, flossing, and care for their teeth is being followed.

What to expect: After the First Visit

Once your child’s initial visit concludes, the dentist will discuss with them a plan for continued exams, cleanings, and treatments. This is generally similar to adult dental care with visits every 6 months. Depending on the your chid’s health needs it is possible that they may need to be seen more often.

We love working with children! Our team aspires to help kids through their oral health needs and develop the proper techniques to keep their mouths healthy well in to adulthood.

Want to schedule? Call us at (717) – 253 – 9839 or you can request an appointment online!