Wondering when should I schedule my child’s first dental checkup?
There are two types of visits that young children need. Children who are three or four should see a dentist for a wellness visit. During a wellness visit, a doctor will assess your little one’s oral health and its development, in addition to cleaning it. A wellness visit can also be used to offer oral care tips and to answer important questions.
A visit like this one typically occurs when a child has a full set of baby teeth. Your child’s first visit shouldn’t wait that long, though. Instead, your child should see a dentist the moment her first tooth comes in.
Prior to that, caring for your child’s smile is as simple as gently scrubbing her gums with gauze or a wet washcloth. Once that first tooth emerges, though, changes are required. At this point, caring for your child’s smile should include a toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste. Then, as more teeth erupt, flossing will need to become a fixture in your child’s daily oral care regiment.
Our dentist can explain how to make this transition when your child’s first tooth comes in. Our pediatric dentists have years of experience and training, which has equipped them to work with the youngest of patients. A children’s dentist sees patients who are a few years old; a pediatric dentist, meanwhile, has been trained to help patients who are just beginning to develop smiles.
An adult or a child with a full set of teeth needs to see a dentist twice a year for checkups and regular cleanings. But that’s not the case for a child who is getting her first teeth. In these very early stages, visiting a pediatric dentist every four months is important. By seeing your child so often, our pediatric dentist can make sure that everything is developing as it should. With frequent visits like these, more can be done to protect new and vulnerable teeth from decay.
Each child is different, of course. During your little one’s initial visit, our doctor can offer a more personalized recommendation for how often care is needed.
Regardless of how often you see us for visits, getting your child started early is an important part of developing habits that could stay with your little one for a lifetime. In some cases, getting started early may also involve bringing your child to one of your own dental visits. In addition to helping your child become accustomed to the sights, sounds, and faces at a dental office, this can also help your child see that everyone needs dental care and that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Then, as she grows, your child will appreciate dental visits instead of dreading them.
For your convenience, Kidtastic has offices in Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek. If you have questions about when our team should start seeing your little one, don’t hesitate to call the office closest to you. In addition to reserving an appointment, we can talk about how smiles develop, and offer advice related to oral care, good nutrition, and topics like thumb sucking or teeth grinding. We’re here to serve you.
