According to the American Dental Association, children should have their visit dental visit within six months of the appearance of their first tooth, and no later than their first birthday. That probably seems soon, doesn't it?! Well, there are several benefits for starting out early with your child's dental health:
For starters, at that one dental visit when their is only one tooth, it's pretty likely that there are zero cavities. Starting out with ideal dental health can help ensure that your child stays on a healthy path.
Visiting the dentist once that first tooth appears allows your child to start a lifelong preventive dental care routine that will help them to minimize tooth decay and gum disease.
Dentists are able to detect early tooth decay, advise parents about proper oral and facial development, and determine the proper at home regimen for your child.
This dental visit during a child's first year can actually save money! A study has shown that children who visit the dentist before age one have 40% lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not. This is attributed to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.
By establishing a "dental home" with your child very early on, you and your child will both be more comfortable with your dental providers and your dentist will have a good baseline of your child's health. This is especially important in case your child should ever have an accident or dental problem. Your child will be more at ease with someone that they already have a relationship with, and your dentist will be able to more accurately compare their condition to their normal healthy state (much like a when you take your child for their well visits at the doctor!).
We would love for Jacques Dentistry to be your child's dental home. We offer complimentary initial exams for infants and toddlers and would love to introduce your child to proper dental health and hygiene!
