When is the right time for a child's first dental visit? Most experts agree that dental visits should begin before a child's first birthday. Pediatric dentists provide "pint-sized" dental care for very small children. Early dental care should begin at home, even before a child's baby teeth come in.
Most professionals advise taking a child to a pediatric dentist after the first tooth erupts, but if there are any concerns before that time, parents should visit the dentist right away. Parents who have experienced anxiety over dental visits should try not to pass this on to their children. Pediatric dentists' offices today are very “kid friendly.” Pediatric dentists will usually allow children to stay on their parents' laps during the examination. Parents should stay positive and upbeat, and try not to scare the young patients.
The First Dental Exam
The first dental examination will probably be very short. After taking a detailed dental health history, including when the child’s baby teeth erupted and what home care methods are being used, the dentist will take a quick look at the child’s teeth and gums. Offering a treat or reward often helps motivate children to sit still for the dentist. A positive first visit will make the child look forward to the next trip to the dentist’s office.
At future visits, the dentist may need to remove any hardened plaque that has developed on the child’s teeth (tartar). This is called “scaling.” If at-home teeth cleaning is done well, a child may never develop tartar that needs to be professionally removed.
Dental Care for Growing Children
When a child begins to shed his primary teeth and his permanent teeth start to erupt, he should visit the dentist at least twice a year. Keeping teeth clean is vitally important during this transitional time. Tooth loss and tooth eruption involves opening the gum tissue, and every time this happens, there is the risk of infection. School-aged children are usually busy with activities and sports, and they may not be brushing and flossing as much as they should. Regular professional cleanings will minimize a child’s risk of tooth decay.
In addition, the dentist can provide several options that could further protect dental health as a child grows up. Most dental offices offer fluoride treatments as part of a regular dental visit. During a fluoride treatment, the child’s teeth are bathed in a fluoride solution for a period of time. The solution is allowed to penetrate all the crevices in the teeth. Regular fluoride treatments have been shown to significantly reduce cavities in children.
The dentist may also advise putting sealants put on the child’s teeth. A dental sealant (also called a pit and fissure sealant) is a plastic, professionally-applied material that is put on the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent cavities. Sealants provide a physical barrier so that cavity-causing bacteria cannot invade the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
According to the CDC, since the early 1970s, tooth decay on smooth tooth surfaces (those without pits and fissures) has declined significantly because of widespread exposure to fluorides. Since that time, approximately 90 percent of the decay in children’s teeth has occurred in tooth surfaces with pits and fissures, and almost two-thirds were found on the chewing surfaces alone. Dental sealants have been shown to prevent decay on tooth surfaces with pits and fissures. Sealants have been used for many years and are recommended by public and professional health associations.
Teaching Children Good Dental Habits
The parent's role as a child’s “pre-dentist” cannot be underestimated. A family dentist will only see a child once or twice a year, but parents see them every hour. Parents know everything their children put in their mouths! Good oral care begins at home and continues at home, day by day. The good habits parents foster while their children are young will minimize the time they spend in the dentist's office in the future, not to mention keeping dental expenses low!
Lucy Tashman - As a writer, I draw on my background in environmental studies, natural history, botany, and herbal medicine, combined with a lifelong ...
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