When should I take my baby to the dentist for the first time?
In order to prevent dental problems, your baby should see a pediatric dentist when their first tooth appears, or no later than their first birthday. This recommendation comes from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To schedule your baby’s first dental appointment with our board-certified pediatric dentist, please call our office @ 281-947-6111.
Dental Care is Crucial During the First Year of Life
Proper care for baby teeth is imperative as they serve several critical functions, including:
Fostering good nutrition by permitting proper chewing
Aiding speech development
Helping proper development of permanent teeth by saving space for them.
Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six and 12 months.
The associative pain of tooth decay can prevent a child from eating correctly, impacting overall health and development. Additionally, undetected and untreated tooth decay can lead to infection, loss of teeth and expensive and mostly preventable emergency and restorative interventions.
A scientific paper in the journal Pediatric Dentistry revealed that children who wait to have their first dental visit until age two or three are more likely to require restorative and emergency visits.
Benefits of the Year One Dental Visit
Visiting a pediatric dentist by the time the first baby tooth appears enables the child to begin a lifelong preventive dental care program to minimize tooth decay and cavities.
Not only can pediatric dentists detect early tooth decay, but they also provide parents with information on proper oral and facial development and growth, determine fluoride needs and more.
The year one dental visit can actually save money. A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.
If you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s dental needs, please give us a call @ 281-947-6111! We are here to get your baby on the right track for a lifetime of healthy and beautiful smiles!
