There are so many critical milestones in your child’s first years, and taking them for their first dental visit is one of them.
Your child’s first dental visit is critical to check they have healthy gums and teeth and that there are no hidden surprises that only a dentist can see. Your child’s first dentist visit also introduces them to regular appointments to help form healthy dental habits.
So, here is what to expect during your child’s first dental cleaning appointment.
When Should You Make Your Child’s First Dentist Appointment?
You should make your child’s first dental appointment once they turn one year old or within six months of their first tooth appearing. It may be tempting to wait until more of your child’s teeth come through, but the best time is (at maximum) after their first year.
If you notice any of the following signs in your child, then you may need to book your child’s first dental appointment sooner:
- Persistent bad breath
- Symptoms they are experiencing abnormal oral pain
- Regularly bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
Do You Really Need to Take Your Child to the Dentist?
Taking your child in for their first dental cleaning and regular check-ups after is the best way to prevent any dental or oral health issues in the future. If dental health problems are left unchecked, they can cost more to fix later on and will take a greater toll than early prevention.
Child dental cleaning is just as necessary as it is for adults. A trained dentist targets areas in the mouth that regular brushing and flossing cannot reach, such as removing plaque and tartar build-up around the gum line.
If plaque and tartar are left to build up, they can eventually lead to gum disease.
In addition to cleaning, during your child’s first dentist visit (and regular appointments after), the dentist will also check:
- That your child’s teeth and jaw are growing properly
- If you or your child are cleaning their teeth properly
- If you and your child need any additional information on cleaning techniques
- That your child is eating a healthy, dental-friendly diet
- That their jaw and teeth line up correctly when they bite
What Happens at Your Child’s First Dental Cleaning?
Before your child’s first dentist visit, it is always helpful to contact our team and let us know a little about your child’s personality. Do they get anxious easily? Are there any specific behaviours or characteristics that will play a role in your child’s experience during their first cleaning?
Our goal is to ensure your child has the best experience possible. Knowing a little bit more about them beforehand lets us make the proper preparations to support them as much as possible in a new experience.
After arriving for your appointment and meeting the Boon Dental team, we will start with a quick examination of your child’s teeth, jaw, gums, bite, and general oral health. Following the initial examination, the teeth cleaning process can begin using specialized tools to gently remove any plaque and tartar from the teeth, similar to cleaning for adults.
We usually take a few minutes to demonstrate correct child dental cleaning and flossing techniques. Whether you clean your child’s teeth or if they have learned to do it for themselves, a refresher never hurts to perfect the method.
If you have any questions or concerns you would like to speak about with a dental professional during your child’s first dentist visit, then feel free to ask throughout the appointment. Our job is to ensure that you receive accurate, up-to-date dental information.
You can schedule any follow-up appointments at the end of the appointment based on the initial dental and oral check results. We will also let you know when to bring your child in again for their next routine dental cleaning.
Summary
Schedule your child’s first dentist visit within six months of their first tooth appearing, or at the latest, when they turn one year old. A child’s first dental cleaning will include an initial assessment of their oral health, a complete dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, and scheduling future appointments if needed. If it is time to bring your child in for their first dental cleaning, contact our team at Boon Dental today to book your appointment.