It’s important to your child’s dental health and overall health to get them started early with good oral hygiene habits; this includes scheduling your child’s first dental visit. Our team of expert pediatric dentists and assistants are here to make your child’s first dental experience pleasant, fun and educational!
The First Dental Visit:
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child’s first dental visit occur by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts.
4 Things to Expect:
First, the appointment usually starts with the dentist and assistant talking to you about your child’s current oral hygiene and nutritional routines at home. Our goal is to help provide you with the tools and information to help keep your child cavity free.
Second, will show your child all of our tools that we will use and depending on their age and level of cooperation, they can assist us with their own dental cleaning.
Next, we will clean and examine their teeth. A fluoride varnish will be placed to help strengthen the enamel of your child’s teeth.
Lastly, your child will receive their goodie bag filled with a new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a sticker! Our team will help schedule your child’s next 6-month check-up to ensure their teeth are continuing to come in strong and healthy.
Helpful Hints:
Sometimes, it can be helpful to talk to your child about their upcoming dental appointment the week before. Practice with them in front of the mirror opening their mouth while you count their teeth. We know this first visit can be as stressful for the parent as it is for the child and we are here to make it as smooth as possible.
To schedule your child’s upcoming dental appointment at Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, give our office a call at 804-741-2226.
