Dental care can be frightening and intimidating to a small child, and that first impression can often last a lifetime. That’s why we do everything we can to make those first impressions as positive as possible.
Ideally, early childhood visits should begin within six months of a child getting their first tooth or age 1, whichever occurs first. This early dental visit has many benefits. Although the child won’t have a large number of teeth yet, there are many other things that will be evaluated at that visit, such as restrictive soft tissue attachments (i.e. tongue/lip ties), evaluation of effectiveness of current oral hygiene practices at home and identification of problem areas, discussion of the child’s diet and ways to minimize their caries risk in the future, etc.
The other primary reason why establishing care at an early age is important has to do with potential for trauma. Oral injuries due to slips/falls are at their peak between the ages of 12 months to 3 years as the children begin to learn how to walk and improve their balance. In the event of a significant injury to the child’s teeth, it helps considerably to have a place that a parent knows they can call to receive same-day emergency care.
Taking advantage of opportunities to establish a dental home early sets up a pattern of success in minimizing caries development and can help the child be more comfortable in the dental office once they reach the age of cooperation. It also dramatically improves the child’s outlook on dentistry, as these appointments are quick and minimally invasive in contrast to more complex restorative care appointments that may include potential need for sedation.
Your children are special and that calls for special care. That’s exactly what the teams at My Kid’s Dentist are here to offer. My Kids’ Dentist offices are supported by The Smile Generation. Click HERE to find a trusted, pediatric dentist near you.
