There are lots of cases of children not visiting dentists at all when they’re young—and this is a mistake. It’s a highly formative period for kids, and today Children’s Dental Center will answer a question that many parents have: When should my child see a dentist?
The Right Time
According to the APPD (Association of Pediatric Program Directors), a child should visit our office by their first birthday or within six months after their first tooth appears—whichever comes first. After their initial visit, children should have regular dental check-ups every six months or as recommended by our team. This should continue as they grow up to ensure their teeth are in the best possible condition.
Why It Matters
So, why is this process so important? There are many reasons, and they’re often ignored or brushed off in the beginning, which can have consequences for children later in adolescence.
- Preventive Care: Routinely scheduled dental check-ups help fight cavities and gum disease through professional cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants. These are all treatments that can only be completed in an office like ours.
- Proper Oral Hygiene Education: Our amazing team of doctors, Dr. Rowland, Dr. Selecman, Dr. Daniel, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Church, all work tirelessly to provide the children and parents of our city with guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques, diet, and habits like thumb-sucking or pacifier use that can negatively impact dental health.
- Early Detection: Our team at Children’s Dental Center can identify early signs of dental problems, such as tooth decay, misalignment, and developmental issues, allowing for timely solutions to be sought out. One of these is referrals to orthodontists for braces or other treatments.
- Building Comfort and Reducing Anxiety: Regular visits help children grow more familiar with the dental office environment, reducing fear and anxiety normally associated with dental visits. We try very hard to provide spaces where they feel as comfortable as they can.
- Monitoring Growth and Development: These visits allow our dentists to monitor the continual growth and development of a child’s teeth, jaw, and bite, ensuring any abnormalities are addressed early. This also helps us to establish a comprehensive record.
- Speech Development: Having healthy teeth is an essential part of proper speech development. We can identify and resolve issues that might affect a child’s ability to speak and enunciate clearly.
- Preventing Pain and Infections: When left untreated, dental conditions can become painful or lead to infections that can affect a child’s overall health and well-being. It’s always important that this condition is identified and treated as early as possible.
- Overall Health Connection: Oral health is strongly linked to overall health. Keeping up with proper dental health can help prevent systemic issues, such as infections that can spread to other parts of the body.
- Establishing Lifelong Habits: Early childhood dental visits help establish excellent oral hygiene habits and instill the importance of regular dental care, which can promote a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums for kids.
Tips of the Trade
We understand if this seems like a stressful process. Kids can be unpredictable in how they react to things, especially doctors. But we’re here to help offer some additional advice on how to keep this experience free of anxiety for parents and children alike.
- Bring Comfort Items: It can be a great idea to let your child bring a favorite stuffed toy or blanket with them to the office, giving them a tactile source of comfort.
- Model Good Behavior: Show your child that you also visit the dentist regularly and that it’s a normal part of taking care of your health. You can also brush alongside them and demonstrate proper technique, reminding them of what we talked about in our office.
- Consider Sedation: We offer dental sedation for kids to help alleviate anxiety for kids who struggle with their visits. You can read more about our approach here.
- Read Books About Dental Visits: There are lots of great books out there, like The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist or Peppa Pig: Dentist Trip, that can make the experience relatable and less scary. Do some research and see if there’s material out there featuring their favorite characters to help.
- Ask for a Tour: One of our team members can briefly show kids around the office to explain what we do in a bit more detail.
- Use Distractions: Bring headphones for older kids to listen to their favorite music. We can establish ways to communicate around this. Some children are very sensitive to loud noises, so consider headphones for noise cancellation or earplugs during their cleanings.
All About Kids
The primary focus of our offices at Children’s Dental Center is to make sure kids feel safe and supported while receiving excellent treatment. You can trust our team of experts to help you in this process! Our offices in Arlington, Collierville, or Midtown are here to serve you.