Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist.

Why should I take my child to the dentist?  The baby teeth are going to fall out anyway.

Your child’s first set of teeth, the primary teeth, are extremely important.  Strong, healthy primary teeth help your child chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and look good.  Just as important, your child’s general health can be affected if diseased and broken primary teeth are not treated early.  If a primary tooth is lost too soon, your child may need to wear a space maintainer until the permanent tooth erupts (comes through the gums).  Otherwise the teeth beside it may tilt toward the empty space, causing the permanent teeth to come in crooked and possibly requiring long and more expensive corrective treatment later.

At what age should my child first see a dentist?

Ideally, it is best to take your child to the dentist around his or her first birthday.  The earlier you begin, the better chance your dentist has to prevent problems.  In addition to checking for decay and other problems, the dentist will teach you how to properly clean your child’s teeth daily, evaluate any adverse habits such as thumbsucking, and identify your child’s fluoride needs.  By starting dental visits at an early age, you will help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits.