What is the suggested age for the first dental exam?
The first exam should be early, “first visit by first birthday”. Why so soon? Dental Problems begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (also known as nursing caries or Bottle tooth decay). Your child risks severe decay from using a bottle during naps or at night. The same decay pattern can occur with a child who continuously nurses from the breast.
The first dental visit should six months after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child’s first birthday. Beginning tooth and mouth examinations early may lead to detection of early stages of tooth decay that can be easily treated. We will examine your child’s teeth for caries and occlusion. We will answer Parent’s Questions about the following: • A program of preventive home care including brushing, flossing, diet and the importance of fluorides • A caries risk assessment • Fluoride supplements • Nutrition as it relates to decay • Early Childhood Caries, which may be due to bottle feeding, inappropriate nursing habits or use of “Sippy” cups • The latest facts about finger, thumb and pacifier habits • What you need to know about preventing injuries to the mouth and teeth • Information on growth and development • Getting an early start in regular dental care is an important step on the road to teaching your child healthy lifetime habits. We want to share with you the latest av
