Our practice, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that your child visit the dentist 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth or by the age of one.
More than 1 in 4 children in the United States have cavities by the time they are 4 years old and establishing a “Dental Home” for your child will allow for appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.

A child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable and positive. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. We caution parents about using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear or anxiety, such as needle, shot, pull, drill or hurt. We want to help you and your child develop a positive opinion of the dentist and feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office. We invite parents to stay with their child during the appointment. As your child continues to see us, we do ask that once they are comfortable with us, you encourage them to experience their dental appointment on their own. This helps them to build their self-confidence for the future and allows them to focus all of their attention on us.

At your child’s first visit, we will review their medical and dental history with you. We will perform a head and neck examination and evaluate your child’s oral health. Dental radiographs (x-rays) may also be taken at this visit.

Most importantly, the age one dental visit serves to educate parents on topics such as how to care for your child’s teeth, teething and developmental milestones ,the appropriate use of fluoride for your child, oral habits such as pacifiers and thumb sucking, dental trauma prevention, and the relationship between diet and oral health.