Many of our patients with younger children as us when the right time for their child’s first dental visit. You may get a variety of opinions on the internet or even among local dentists. This blog will share the philosophy that our office follows. If you have further questions, we are always happy to answer them!
At Elmbrook Family Dental, we prefer to see your child for their first visit near the age of 3. This is an age that we can expect a little more cooperation and understanding from your little one. Although some recommendations discuss seeing a child near the age of 1, the compliance of a child at that age can be unpredictable and may lead to more dental anxiety in the future if it is not a good experience. Around age 3, we will schedule your child for a “Happy Visit”. During this visit we will give your little one special sunglasses to wear and a ride in the chair. If they seem eager and excited, we will “count” their teeth, and hopefully even polish them! The dentist will come in to do an exam at which time they will check for cavities and for early signs of crowding or orthodontic issues. At the end, we will paint a preventative fluoride treatment on their teeth. If your child is apprehensive during this visit, there are no worries! We will not push this visit. We are here to make it a good experience in any way we can. This sets the premise for many more good experiences in the future. Often times the first visit may consist of just a ride in the chair (maybe even on Mom or Dad’s lap) and a quick peek to scan for any major problems. We will always discuss brushing technique, good diet choices and perhaps use of pacifiers and thumb sucking as well.
If you have’t seen it, we have a great treasure chest with wonderful prizes for after a good dental check up! We look forward to taking care of your smile and the smile of your little family members for years to come.