Do you know what the ideal age is to take your child to his or her first dental appointment? The answer may surprise you! According to the American Dental Association, you should schedule your child’s first dental appointment the moment the first tooth comes in. This most likely means your child will be about one year old when you should take him or her to the dentist.
Experts advise not to wait until your child complains of a tooth problem before you take him or her to the dentist. The sooner your child sees a dentist, the sooner dental problems can be diagnosed and treated. Here are some reasons why it’s beneficial to take your child to the dentist early on.
Detecting Oral Conditions Early
An important reason why you would want your child to see a dentist as early as possible is to catch any oral issues early. The dentist will check your child’s gums, teeth, jawbone, and bite for any abnormalities. This is crucial because oral abnormalities can cause speech, breathing, and chewing issues.
Some issues that affect a child’s oral health include tooth decay, thumb sucking, and tongue thrusting. Problems caught early on can be fixed quickly and could save you and your child expensive treatments later on in life. For this reason, every child is advised to see a dentist every six months starting from when the first tooth appears.
Teaching Good Oral Habits Early
Our team of dental professionals will teach your children good oral habits. We are skilled at communicating the importance of good oral health with really young children. We will teach your child how to brush and floss as well as explain why it’s important to limit sugary treats.
In our dental clinic, kids are not rushed, and the dentistry staff will take their time to make their little patients comfortable and well-informed. Eventually, your child will feel confident in going to see the dentist, which is great for his or her oral health for years to come.
Relationship Building
Your child’s first dental appointment will be about establishing a relationship with our clinic and staff and getting comfortable with the dental environment. Our staff are experts at getting kids to trust them with their calm, gentle, and even fun manner. The first visit can set the tone for how your child perceives dentists and dental appointments, and they will carry this into their adolescence and adulthood.
Pediatric Dental Care in St. Paul, Minnesota
At Hagerman Dental Care, we welcome children of all ages! Treating children is one of our specialties, and we are happy to introduce and reinforce good oral health habits to young Minnesotans.
With our professional, fun, and relaxing demeanor, we can help your child avoid a lifetime of dental problems by helping them establish good oral health habits at a young age. To schedule an appointment, please call (651) 646-2392 or request an appointment online. Our kid-friendly staff welcomes you to our clinic!