When Should a Child See the Dentist for the First Time?

Parents often ask when their child should make their first visit to the dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says children should have their first dental visit by their first birthday or six months after the first tooth appears, whichever comes first. This first visit is important for establishing rapport and introducing the child to a lifetime of good dental habits and also screening for and catching potential problems before they become serious.

Families who stay in or near Connecticut may find it beneficial to make an early visit to a New Canaan orthodontic specialist to gain advice or potentially treatment if bite malocclusions or early crowding is detected.

Why Early Dental Visits Matter

Baby teeth are important to a child’s growth. They assist in chewing food properly as well as speech, and they can serve as spacers for permanent teeth. While baby teeth will eventually get loose and fall out, decay or early loss of these teeth can cause misalignment and other long-term problems.

The dentist will do the following during a child’s first dental visit:

Examine the mouth and gums

Look for signs of decay early

Talk about teething, nutrition and thumb-sucking

Provide home care instruction and hygiene demonstrations

Early establishment of a dental home also serves to ease the child into dental visits as they age and develop.

What About Orthodontic Assessment?

While the first view of the dentist should occur by the age of one, most orthodontists advise that your child receive his/her first orthodontic check at the age of seven. This is when the 6 year molars usually settle in and bite relationships solidify. Professional assessment from a New Canaan Orthodontist can help identify crowding, crossbites, underbites, or jaw irregularities.

Early detection is not always synonymous with early treatment. Most of the time the orthodontist will track the growth of the child and advise when the best time is for intervention. However, when early treatment is appropriate, it can direct the growth of the jaw, help the permanent teeth come in straight, and may reduce the severity of future orthodontics corrections.

Making the Experience Positive

Establishing dental care early on creates trust between child and By introducing dental care at an early age, children learn to trust their health care workers. There is much that parents can do to make the transition easier by:

Book morning appointments when children are rested

Bringing familiar things, such as a favorite toy

Negative suggestions should be avoided

So anytime your child exhibits early signs of a bite problem or impacted teeth, make an appointment with a New Canaan Orthodontist to discuss your child’s needs.

Conclusion

The path to a confident smile starts early. Bringing your child to the dentist by age one, and arranging an orthodontic consultation by the time they are seven allows for a healthy dental foundation for your child to grow upon.

Maddy is the author of this article, if you want to learn about Weston CT Metal Braces you can visit to www.ridgefieldortho.com