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First Visit – Age One Dental Visit
 Many dental problems are preventable. For this reason the
“AAPD”/American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the “AAP”/American
Academy of Pediatrics recommend a dental visit within 6 months of the
eruption of the first tooth. This is usually between 12 and 18 months of
age. This visit has less to do with the child (although we do want to
peek inside the mouth) and more to do with trying to determine a child’s
dental caries risk. A Medical and Dental questionnaire will be given to
the parent. After these forms are completed, the parent and child will
meet with one of our doctors to review this information. Topics of
interest are varied but fluoride exposure – well water vs. fluoridated
water, oral habits, oral hygiene and eating or nursing habits will be
reviewed. Your child will be examined in the knee to knee position.
Depending upon what we discover, your child’s teeth may be brushed and
topical fluoride may be applied to their teeth. After the discussion and
examination, recommendations will be made that are specific to your
child. Please remember that very young children will cry when examined –
just like they do when they get their hair cut or when their
pediatricians examine them. We understand this and we are trained to
deal with it. We want you to realize that this is what we need to do to
ensure that your child has the best chances for a healthy mouth.
Most of this first visit is directed towards the parents. They involve
introductions to our office and staff. We will also show the parents how
to care for their child’s teeth!
Toddler and School Aged Visit
 Parents
will complete a Medical and Dental health history form for each child.
This form will be reviewed and discussed with one of our doctors in our
consultation room which is a room with a table, chairs, toys, books, and
television with age appropriate videos. We like to meet the parents and
children first in a non-dental environment. We find that this is
comforting to both the children and the parents. After the initial
meeting, we will walk to our treatment area where your child will select
a toothbrush and prizes and/or stickers that they will “win” while they
are visiting our office. One of our staff members, hygienists or doctors
will get started with your child. Depending upon the age of the child,
they may or may not sit in the dental chair. They may sit on your lap or
climb into our “magic” chair. A dental examination will be completed.
The teeth may be cleaned and oral hygiene techniques reviewed with the
child and parent. Fluoride gel or Fluoride varnish may be applied to the
teeth. If needed, X-ray “pictures” of the teeth will be taken. The
conclusion of this appointment will be a review with our doctor,
explanation of the X-rays and a discussion if any further treatment is
needed. Routinely, children should be seen every six months.
However, some high risk patients, those with poor oral hygiene or those
in orthodontic treatment, may be seen every three or four months.
All Children
Allowing your child to get to know our dental team members is just as
important as the checkup itself! When your child has fun with our team
it can lead to fearlessness about future visits. We see the benefits of
this every day; children are so responsive to our treatment style they
look forward to returning to our office.
If you have any dental anxieties, please be very careful not to pass
them on to your child!
By making your child’s first
“ride” in the dental chair a pleasant and interesting experience, we’re
building a firm foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
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