Your Child’s First Dental Visit
When your child gets their first tooth, there is another milestone on the horizon: their first dental appointment! We know it may seem young, and the idea of bringing them may feel overwhelming. It’s important to note, however, that babies can get cavities as soon as the first tooth erupts. These early visits are vital for helping kids build a relationship with their dentist and get used to our office.
Our Promise at Treasured Smiles
At Treasured Smiles, we have mastered the art of putting kids of all ages at ease. This includes babies and toddlers, where we make sure their check-up is quick and enjoyable for everyone. While we do not have a one-size-fits-all approach to the first appointment, we do have some basic things parents can anticipate before coming in!
A Warm Welcome
At your child’s first dental visit, or any visit, they’ll receive a warm welcome from our friendly team members. To speed things up, you can fill out our new patient forms online before you come into the office. Under normal circumstances, and at some point, in the future, if you arrive early, you and your kiddo can unwind in our bright, kid-friendly reception area and read books or play with our awesome toys.
The Treatment Area
One of the advantages of pediatric dentistry is everything at the office is typically designed just for kids and our practice is no different. A dental hygienist will take you and your child back to a comfy, colorful treatment room. It will depend on your child’s age but for a baby’s first dentist appointment, we may have your little one sit on your lap during the exam, while for a first dental visit at age 4, for example, your child can sit in the chair on their own.
The Dental Exam
Our pediatric dentist will introduce themselves and perform a quick but thorough exam. Our dentists always tell kids exactly what they’re going to do in kid-friendly terms, show them any instruments they’ll be using and make sure they’re on board before we start. When your child is ready, the tooth doctor will count and examine your child’s little teeth, look at their gums and jaws, and evaluate their growth and development.
What About the Dental Cleaning?
Is dental cleaning done for children? It depends. For a one-year-old baby’s first dental visit, we may not perform a cleaning and, as we said, we really let your child guide the visit. For a first dental visit at age 2, 3 or 4, we may do a gentle cleaning. Again, we’ll use behavioral techniques like tell-show-do and non-threatening language to describe tools (tooth tickler, anyone?) so kids feel relaxed and comfortable. When a dental cleaning is done for children, we floss the teeth, remove any hardened plaque and then polish their pearly whites.
Chat with Our Dentist
Once the exam and cleaning are done, we’ll wrap up your baby’s first dental visit by filling you in on things like what you can expect as the rest of their little teeth erupt, when to stop oral habits like thumb sucking or pacifier use, how to brush and floss their teeth, as well as tips for your child’s dental health in general. If you have any questions, we’ll be more than happy to answer them. We’ll also let you know when your child should come back for their second visit, usually in six months.
Contact Our Office
To get your child started on dental care in Maricopa, Arizona, contact us today at (520) 316-6111 and schedule a visit with our friendly pediatric dentist, Dr. Duane C. Clouse.