At what age should I should I take my child to the dentist for their first visit?

This is one of the questions we get asked the most, and it's a great question because opinions may vary among dentists.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (aapd.org) strongly recommends that your child sees a dentist when the first tooth appears in the mouth or by their first birthday, whichever comes first.  This visit is mostly educational in nature.  The dentist will spend time discussing oral hygiene needs for your child as they grow and discuss different methods to care for their teeth, as well as dietary guidelines that will help they have cavity-free appointments throughout life. 

Often for children under 3 we will recommend they sit in your lap during examination, especially if they are anxious or fidgety.  The dentist will look in their mouth and check on tooth development and look for any problems with their teeth or gums.  If the child allows, a gentle cleaning will be performed.  Finally, we will review brushing and flossing procedures for both the child and parent and give recommendations for products to assist with home care. 

As your child gets a bit older we will recommend taking X-rays when appropriate to check for cavities and make sure the adult teeth are developing properly.  We may also recommend Fluoride treatments and/or Sealants to prevent decay.  Some children are referred to an Orthodontist at an early age(5-6) if they have some early crowding or spacing problems.

Here at our office we love to see kids of all ages.  However, we usually recommend your child see a local Pediatric Dental Specialist if they are age 3 and under.  This is because pediatric dental offices do a great job of allowing extra time to counsel parents for each child's specific needs and situation and can treat children at a very young age with special sedation if needed.  Most of the time we begin seeing your children at the age of 4.  If your child shows a high level of anxiety or has a need for more advanced dental care, then we may recommend a referral to a Pediatric Dentist as well.

Here are some of the wonderful local Pediatric Dentists we work with:

Dr. Lee Baker
Dr. Amber Perry
Dr. Phil Miller
Drs. David Brantley, John Spratling, and Gary Katcoff
Dr. Andy Chandler
Dr. Barbara Utermark




Gregory A. Clepper, DMD