The earlier your child visits a dental professional the better. A good time for a dental visit is after your baby’s first tooth becomes visible or they reach 12 months old.
If you notice anything you think is out of the ordinary (not just with teeth) before this time it’s better to be safe than sorry, so book an appointment straight away. Definitely have your child's teeth checked before they turn 4 years old.
During your baby’s first dental visit your little one might be a bit clingy. This is the same as when they visit anywhere else that’s an unfamiliar place.
Don’t worry, this is completely normal and the dental team is trained to make sure your baby is as comfortable as possible during their check-up. The dental professional will always be as gentle as possible.
Remember, this is a special occasion! It is a milestone in your life as a parent and should be remembered, just like a first hair cut or their first day at school.
As parents it’s a great idea to use the first dental visit to become well informed about your child’s oral health. A full medical history will be taken and also a look at factors such as your child’s overall health and development will be discussed.
Your dental professional will also chat about;
• Teething
• Brushing techniques
• Bite (how your child’s teeth will come together)
• Soft tissues such as gums and cheeks
• Habits such as thumb sucking
• Risk of decay and how to prevent it
• Prevention of trauma to your child’s mouth
• Nutritional advice,
and of course, answer any questions for you.
When preparing for future dental visits parents play a very important role in making visits to the dentist a positive and enjoyable experience. It is very important that when you talk about the dentist that you use positive and child-friendly terms, like; “seeing the tooth fairy’s friend” or “going for a ride in the dental chair”.
Your dental professional has your child’s best interests at heart and wants to support you to make sure that good habits are formed early.
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