Pediatric Dentistry: The First Visit
Your child’s first dental visit needs to be a positive one. Why? Because, it can not only affect your child’s oral care, but it will have an impact on future visits. Many adults suffer anxiety when it comes to visiting a dentist. Much of this has to do with past experiences, or perhaps the initial visit. You want your child to be comfortable during the first and all future dental visits.
At Hamilton Dental Designs we provide a safe environment and work to build a trusting relationship with you and your child to ensure positive dental experiences. We believe that bringing your child to the dentist at an early age will help develop healthy oral care habits that will last into their adult life.
What Type of Pediatric Services are Offered?
Hamilton Dental Designs offers the following pediatric dental services:
- Age appropriate patient education on oral hygiene
- Gentle dental exams
- Diagnostic digital x-rays
- Dental sealants
- Teeth Cleanings
When to Make the First Dental Appointment
Most children get all of their baby teeth (20) and will have a full set of teeth in place by the age of three (3). Generally, a baby’s front four (4) teeth usually come through the gums at about six (6) months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months. We recommended that parents schedule an appointment for the first visit at the age of 1 or when the first tooth begins to emerge.
Children who begin oral care early are less likely to have complex dental concerns such as:
- Cavities
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss and,
- Gum disease
Routine dental checkups are key to protecting your child’s oral and overall health. Our pediatric dental team will help you and your child learn fun and entertaining ways to promote oral hygiene at home.
What to Expect
During your child’s first visit, you can expect the dentist to:
- Inspect for oral injuries, cavities or other problems.
- Let you know if your child is at risk of developing tooth decay.
- Clean your child’s teeth and provide tips for daily care.
- Discuss teething, pacifier use, or finger/thumb-sucking habits.
- Discuss treatment, if needed, and schedule the next check-up.
Remember, starting early will help to create a level of comfort with the dentist as well as promote good healthy mouth habits.
Dr. Jose Gil and the entire dental team at our Lehigh Valley location will welcome your child with open arms, making the first experience enjoyable for the whole family.