What to Expect
The First Dental Visit: Setting A Healthy Foundation
Why parents may delay the age 1 dental visit:
- Parents may feel that the child does not have any presenting concerns or “enough” teeth
- They may worry about the success of the appointment because the child may be too young to cooperate
- There is also a general lack of awareness on the importance of the age 1 visit and of primary (baby) teeth
What happens during the first visit with the pediatric dentist:
- Determine your child’s cavity risk
- Detailed medical/dental intake
- Tips on brushing
- Evaluate for oral conditions such as pathology, tongue/lip tie, cavities
- Answer a range of questions- fluoride, pacifiers, diet, breastfeeding/bottle feeding, sippy cups, how to handle dental/mouth injuries, teething
- Provide a clinically appropriate tooth cleaning and fluoride varnish application; imaging if indicated
Preparing Your Child
