If you’re a new parent, firstly, congratulations. Secondly, do you know when your child should first visit the dentist and what to expect? No? Read on to find out!
Dentists are pretty unanimous that a child should come to see us by their first birthday. While teeth may be still in their growth stage at that time, it’s essential that we check your child for any problems and offer a range of information around oral hygiene, diet and the effects of each on the mouth.
Prevention is better than cure in every situation and we all want to provide the very best for your child. That’s where this first visit comes in. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, one in four children will have cavities by age four. With the vast majority of these being entirely preventable, we owe it to our children to help prevent them.
Your child’s first dental visit will include all this and more. We will discuss how to care for your child’s teeth and gums, how to manage thumb sucking and finger eating, how to prevent tooth decay and the benefits of holistic toothpastes and treatments.
We will also discuss teething, tooth loss through maturity and you will have the opportunity to ask us as many questions as you like about your child’s oral health.
Positive Dental Experiences
It is also vital that we create positive associations between us the dentist and your child. Many people develop a fear of the dentist and we need to begin preventing that right away. We’re nice people and only have your interests at heart, so we try to teach children that from a very early age.
That’s why in that first visit, there will be very little physical examination and more discussion. We will of course check to make sure everything is okay, but we keep the handling to a minimum.
To give your child the best possible start, you need to select the right pediatric dentist. A dentist who has been specially trained in the particular treatment of children and who can recognize symptoms and advise you of preventive measures should they become necessary.
Aesthetic Family Dentistry have the training and experience to provide quality, holistic care to patients of all ages. As trained dentists we are well placed to manage the oral health of your family from beginning to end and at all times in-between.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
