Children should start dental care early, so it’s important for parents to know the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. According to these official guidelines, children need to see the dentist 6 months after their first tooth erupts. If this hasn’t happened by the time the child is 12 months old, the child should see the dentist at that point.

The First Dental Visit

During the first dental visit, the child and parents will spend a fairly short time in the office. This is the ideal opportunity for children and their parents to meet Dr. Davis in a calm atmosphere. Dr. Davis strives to set her young patients at ease and believes that this “getting to know you” visit is extremely helpful in establishing the dentist as a friend in the child’s eyes.

The First Tooth Visit

If the child’s first visit to Dr. Davis occurs when their first tooth erupts (or at 12 months old) there is a special system in place to make it easy on the baby and the parents. The baby will rest in the parent’s lap while Dr. Davis looks at the teeth and gums using a toothbrush and a mirror. She will then review her findings with the parent and give them recommendations for future dental care. Parents can then take this opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about oral hygiene for kids while the child plays in the lobby. Many parents say that the hardest part of the “first tooth” visit is prying their child away from the toys in the lobby Kid’s Zone.

How Dental Visits Work For Toddlers and Older Children

Children will first have access to a range of fun distractions in the lobby playroom, the “Kid’s Zone.” This is followed by a tour of the whole dentist’s office. The staff is trained to use child-friendly words and terminology. Parents should avoid using words like “hurt,” “needle,” “pinch,” “drill,” or any other word that can make the child fearful or worried. The child will “take a ride” in the dentist’s chair to bring them to the right position for the exam. “Mr. Tickle,” the teeth shining device, is then used on the young patient.

Dr. Davis will look for signs of tooth decay, alignment issues, and other possible issues within the mouth. If a teeth cleaning is needed, Dr. Davis or a dental hygienist will perform that cleaning with a gentle touch. If fluoride treatment is needed, it may be done immediately after the teeth cleaning.

Parents can come back to the exam room with their child, but in most cases it’s best for parents to stay hidden where the child can’t see them. There is a “peek-a-boo” area where parents can observe the child while they’re in the dental chair. Parents may have anxiety that is easily transferred to the child, and children have generally done better when they’re alone with the dentist or hygienist. This also allows a chance for the dental staff to get to know the child, which helps the young patient relax.

Dental Care at Home

Dr. Davis and her staff can provide parents with tips and tricks to help them establish better oral hygiene routines for their child.  This usually includes brushing twice a day, two minutes per session. Flossing is also a critical part of good oral care and should begin early in life. Children can learn to brush their own teeth when they are still quite young, and if parents try to make it fun rather than a chore it will quickly become an ingrained habit. Some kids enjoy setting a timer for their brushing sessions. Non-food rewards like stickers can also be helpful as a child is settling into a personal dental care routine.

Dr. Maggie Davis is a pediatric dentist office in Palm Harbor, Florida. She offers regular check-up visits, consultations, emergency exams, digital x-rays, counseling on finger/pacifier sucking, counseling on tobacco & intraoral piercings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, interceptive orthodontics, comprehensive orthodontics, space maintenance, cosmetic tooth bonding, teeth whitening, and dentistry for children with special health care needs. Several kinds of sedation are offered, including nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and I.V. sedation. Call anytime to arrange an appointment with Dr. Davis.