As your Davisville Toronto dentist, I am often asked when a child should first see a dentist. When it comes to the first dental visit, there are certain things to consider. I often recommend that the best time to schedule your child’s first dental visit is approximately six months after the first tooth erupts. This is often before your child’s first birthday.
This first dental visit for your child is a great opportunity to learn some basics. During this dental visit, we’ll go over ways to keep your child’s teeth clean. We’ll also discuss feeding practices for good dental care and review ways to mitigate the impact from potentially adverse habits such as thumb-sucking. Think of this dental visit as the starting point to your child’s oral health future.
When it comes to the first dental visit for your child, where do you start? Let’s take a closer look at this exciting time in your child’s oral health journey.
Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Visit
I always recommend scheduling the first dental visit in the morning if it’s possible to accommodate with your schedule. This is when young children are alert, which makes the experience a bit more productive.
Dentists can be scary to some children. I often recommend discussing what they can expect, explaining who their dentist is and why they are going. If you review the benefits of visiting a dentist, you can help them understand the entire experience. Have some fun and build excitement around the entire dental visit. While educating them about the benefits and importance of regular dental visits, having fun is also a key part to their oral health experience.
What To Do Before Your Dental Visit
I am always happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have before your child’s first dental visit. It might be smart to stop by our Davisville dental office to chat before their big day. I always remind parents that their expectations of the first dental visit can be very different in comparison to your child’s. As I mentioned, dentists can be scary to some.
It’s important to be the support system for your child. Staying calm while they’re in the exam room or being there for them as they meet their dentist for the first time is very important. Overall, try to do everything you can to make the dental visit a fun, positive experience that they’ll look forward to in the future.
What Happens During Their First Dental Visit?
Since this is the first time your child will be visiting our office, I try to make the experience as positive as possible. This is a great time to acquaint the child to our dental office and our dental team.
The first dental visit will likely include the examination of your child’s teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral tissues. We’ll also review some great home cleaning and preventative care procedures for between dental visits. It’s also a great time to review their overall oral health and monitor their oral growth and development.
We want to help set your child up for a great oral health future.
Next Steps
If you have questions about your child’s first dental visit, visit my website and schedule a consultation OR drop by my Davisville dental office! We can sit down to discuss your how to help you have a whiter, brighter and healthier smile.
And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter for the latest dental tips, tricks and advice! Can’t wait to see you!