Your Child’s First Visit

My child is just getting their first baby tooth, should I visit the dentist?

Yes! As soon as your baby has teeth, they can get cavities. It’s important to see a dentist right away to keep your baby’s smile healthy.

Your baby’s first dental visit should be after the first tooth appears, yet before their first birthday. It might seem early, but as soon as your baby has teeth they can get cavities.

Here are a couple of tips to get you ready for your child’s first visit:

• Talk to your child about the dentist and visit, make sure to be positive about this new adventure!
• Have your child practice opening their mouth, and counting their teeth.
• Read a book or watch videos about the first trips to the dentist.
• Fill out the health forms ahead of time (you can fill our OHP’s forms right here!)
• Make a list of questions for the dentist or dental advice they can offer.

During the visit, the dentist will examine your child’s teeth and jaw to make sure everything is developing correctly. You will need to go back with your child and hold them if they can’t sit in the chair by themselves. After the exam, your child’s teeth will be cleaned and you will get tips for tooth care and have any questions answered.

Don’t worry if your child gets the wiggles, or cries during their visit. We see lots of kids and we know this is a new experience for your child!

Keep in mind some tips for a great first visit:

• Don’t schedule during naptime.
• Make sure your child isn’t hungry during the visit, but save snack time until after the visit so your child’s teeth are clean and ready to be examined.
• Brush your child’s teeth before your visit.
• Stay positive!
• Use their first dental visit as an opportunity for them to learn about good tooth health and how to start habits that will keep their smile healthy for years to come!

My child is a little bit older and getting ready for their first visit, what should I expect?

We are so excited to see you for your child’s first visit! Many of the same tips apply whether your child is a baby or a little older. If your child is a little older, some differences might be going into the exam area by themselves. This helps establish trust between the dentist, hygienists and the patient.

Your child might get x-rays on their visit. These will help the dentists see if there are any issues that can’t be seen when they look in your child’s mouth. They will also show how the jaw and the bones are developing.

If your child is having pain be sure and mention that when making the appointment. This will help the dentist during the exam so they can diagnose the problem.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s first visit, be sure and ask when you are making the appointment. We are always excited to meet new patients and help them get and keep healthy smiles!