Your Child’s First Visit

The first “regular” dental visit should be when the child is three or four. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist. Sometime it is a good idea to bring the child with you when you get your teeth cleaned and the child can sit in your lap of the end of your visit.

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.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. It is better not to make a big deal out of the visit to the dentist. Your child’s reaction to his or her first visit to the dentist may surprise you.