Your young child may require a dental exam prior to starting school. This; however, should not be the child’s first dental visit.

The American Academy on Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) in agreement with the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends the first dental visit occur after the first tooth erupts and no later than the first birthday. Your child should be seen every 6 months after that. Following these recommendations is important for the following reasons:

1) If tooth decay is already present, detection at an early age allows time to prevent further problems by identifying and eliminating the source (diet, presence of juice/milk in bottle, poor hygiene, etc…) through discussions and education with the primary caregiver

2) Ensure the teeth are erupting normally and there are no other oral health issues.

3) Educate the primary caregiver on proper oral hygiene, expectations on permanent teeth eruption, and proper diet.

4) Provide a dental home in case there is a dental emergency

5) Establish a relationship with the dentist and allow the child to get accustomed to the dental environment.