When to Begin Dental Care for Your Child—and Why

Getting your child started on regular dentist visits when they are young is one of the best decisions you can make for lifelong healthy teeth and gums. Many parents are misinformed on the proper age of care and opt to wait until their child is well into losing their baby teeth before bringing them in for a checkup, believing that only adult teeth “matter.” Nothing can be further from the truth! Treating primary teeth with care ensures healthier permanent teeth in the future.

Why Are Primary Teeth Important?

• They help maintain good nutrition by allowing your child to chew properly.
• They play an essential role in good pronunciation and speech habits.
• They help your child feel good about the way they look to others.
• They are susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC), which can lead to a higher risk of cavities in permanent teeth, increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits, loss of school days, and diminished ability to learn.

The good news is that the consequences of early cavities are almost all preventable through counseling and education from a dentist who specializes in children. The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents establish a dental home for their infant by their first birthday.  

What Should You Expect at Your Child’s First Dental Visit?

1. A thorough oral examination
2. Performance and demonstration of age-appropriate tooth and gum cleaning
3. Education, prevention, and management of ECC (early cavity risk)
4. Education on preventing orofacial trauma, including conversation about play objects, pacifiers, car seats, and electrical cords
5. Counseling on teething—what to expect, recommendations on what to use, and what to avoid
6. Examination of the frenum, the tissue that attaches lips to the gums or tongue and sometimes causes difficulties with eating, nursing, and speech
7. Discussion of non-nutritive habits and their effects, such as sucking thumbs, fingers, or pacifiers; grinding or clenching teeth; and abnormal tongue thrusting 

Initiating regular dental checkups at one year of age not only helps establish good habits, but provides opportunities for early intervention, whether fluoride varnish treatment for high-to-moderate risk teeth, treatment recommendation for frenum therapy (tongue ties, failure to latch during nursing) , or strategies for avoiding habits that may lead to a need for orthodontics.  

The best pediatric dental care is delivered by dentists and staff who know and understand kids. When you start your child off with a pediatric specialist, they will not only accept regular visits to the dentist but may even come to enjoy them!  

We at Pediatric Dentistry are excited to meet your child, no matter what age or stage they’re in! Give us a call at 419-522-5437 or request an appointment online.