Your Child’s First Visit

The first “regular” dental visit should be just after your child’s third birthday.

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment.  Please see our Parent Guidelines for more information on the parent/guardian’s role.

We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

First Visit Tips

  • Read books with them about going to the dentist.
  • Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
  • Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
Baby Teeth

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth, but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene!

The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about six to eight months old. Next to follow will be the four upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2-1/2 years old.

At around 2-1/2 years old, your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of five and six, the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late. All children are different.

Learn About Cavity Prevention

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