A lot of parents get excited about all of their baby's "firsts."
Baby's first foods! Baby's first steps! Baby's first word! Baby's first dental visit!
Dental visit? Yes, we said it! Parents should be excited about their baby's first dental visit too!
How Do I Even Know It Is Time?
This is a big question that we get from new parents! How do they know it's time to take their little one to the pediatric dentist? We recommend either right after their first birthday or after their first tooth comes in, whichever is first. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the same. Don't worry about which one comes first. Each child's development is a bit different, there is no "exact time." One purpose is to be sure that everything is looking good as your child's baby teeth come in and to assist you in caring for your child's dental needs. We even have a guide to help parents know when to expect their child's baby teeth to come in!
We also understand, especially with the state of the world and that some parents have had to wait a bit longer. While we do encourage around the age of one, if your child is older, it's never too late for a first visit! We welcome young patients of all ages and life-long special needs patients as well.
Do They Need To See A Dentist This Young?
We believe that a baby's first dental visit is one of the most important of their childhood! It is an opportunity for the parents and the child to meet Dr. Casey and our staff at Medical Center Children's Dentistry. Our staff strives to create an environment that everyone feels comfortable and safe in, including parents! This is a vital opportunity for parents to ask questions and we always encourage them to do so. (Knowledge is power!) As your family's pediatric dental office, this is our commitment to show you all the tips and tricks we know to take care of their teeth at home! We believe it takes a village to raise kids and we are excited to offer our patients' parents all the helpful advice that we can.
What Baby's First Dental Visits Look Like Here
We make these baby's first dental visits as easy as we can for everyone, especially our little patients. Our main goals are:
- Check out the baby's gums, jaw, teeth, and bite to check for any potential issues.
- Teach the parent(s) the best oral health and tooth care tips we know!
- Let the parent(s) ask as many questions as they have.
- Have fun learning and growing together!
It is our promise to take as much or as little time as you need to feel comfortable, safe, and well informed. We believe that the more comfortable the parents are, the more comfortable the children will be as well. We want our patients' parents to be as informed throughout the process as possible. This allows them to be an active part of cultivating their children's great, lifelong oral health.
We love giving our patients' parents the tools and information for them to use at home! Our goal is to make each trip to the dentist fun and stress-free for our patients and their parents. If you are interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment for your little one, we welcome you to reach out!
