First Pediatric Dental Appointment Spring Lake, NC
What Happens At A Child’s First Dental Appointment?
The first “regular” dental visit should be at age 1. The first dental visit is typically short and involves little treatment. We may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken depending on age (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the 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 importantly, we will review how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.
Ready To Take The Next Step In Your Child’s Dental Health?
At Spring Lake Dental Group, you can trust that we will "treat every patient like a family member." Start your child's dental journey off on a positive note, contact us to scheduule an appointment.
What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?
Our dentists are often asked this question. We suggest you prepare your child before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.
Here are some “first visit” tips:
- Take your child for a “preview” of the office.
- Read books about going to the dentist with them.
- Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
- Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
During your first visit, the dentist will:
- Examine your child’s mouth, teeth, and gums.
- Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
- Check to see if fluoride is needed.
- Educate on the proper ways to clean teeth and gums.
- Speak to you about a healthy diet and cavity prevention.
- Suggest to schedule for regular dental visits.