Children start young these days. That’s especially true when it comes to dental care, and the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) supports this fully. In fact, the CDA recommends that infants be assessed by a dentist within 6 months of their first tooth erupting. At the very latest, your child should have his or her first dental exam by one year of age. But what exactly does the dentist check for during such an early visit, you wonder? As one of the most highly recommended dentists in Surrey for children, I’ll try to explain.
The Purpose of the First Visit
The purpose of this is to have the child’s mouth, bite and the state of his oral health checked and recorded before a problem occurs with his teeth.
1.Getting Acquainted
Many people feel a dental visit is a waste of time for a child with one or two baby teeth. A primary reason for this first dental visit, however, is to let children get used to the idea of going to a dentist. Usually, the dentist will do a careful examination of your child’s teeth and jaws, check the child’s bite, gums, and oral tissues to monitor ongoing growth and development, and to make a note of any anomalies that might be visible.
2.Starting a Patient Record
Having detailed dental records enables the dentist to deliver quality patient care and to follow-up on any issues that he believes might compromise the oral health of your child. These patient records follow you throughout your life and help to maintain the continuity of care that every patient deserves. X-rays are not usually taken unless there is a clear need for this, as we try to avoid unnecessary exposure for children.
3.Teething Check
It’s important for your child’s dentist to be aware of any delays in teething or problems that might inhibit the timely eruption of the baby teeth. During the first visit, most recommended dentists in Surrey will check to see that teething is happening according to the right timeline. You’ll also get advice on which teething products to use and which to avoid, from soothing gels through to items the child can chew on. If your child has any bad habits such as thumb-sucking that could affect his teething, the dentist will help you identify ways to manage these.
4.First Teeth Cleaning
Children who already have a baby tooth or two at the time of their first visit will usually experience gentle cleaning and polishing of the teeth. This serves a dual purpose of giving your little one a head start with good oral hygiene, as well as getting used to having the dentist work in his mouth.
5.Starting Oral Hygiene
Since daily brushing and flossing is such an important part of good oral health, your dentist will discuss the methods you’re currently using to clean the child’s teeth. If you’re having difficulty performing any of these, he’ll show you how to resolve the problem and possibly demonstrate so your child gets used to the idea.
Making the Second Appointment
Before you leave, it’s a good idea to make your next appointment in advance, to ensure that your dentist isn’t booked up when you want to see him.
Schedule your child’s first appointment with our recommended dentists in Surrey today, so you can ensure you start him or her out the right way when it comes to oral health for life.