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When you bring your newborn home from the hospital and are adjusting to your new family member, the last thing you might be thinking about is their oral health. But your new baby’s teeth come in faster than you’d think.
At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, pediatric dentists Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, recommend bringing your infant in as soon as they get their first teeth, even if they’re just a few months old. Keep reading to learn the benefits of well-baby visits and when to take your baby to the dentist.
Your baby can and should see the dentist as soon as it gets its first tooth. Some children start to get baby teeth as young as three months old.
All children should see a dentist by the time they turn one, at the latest. You should schedule their first visit when they turn one, even if they don’t have any teeth yet.
The younger your infant starts seeing the dentist, the less likely they are to have dental problems. Just like visits for older children, dental checkups and cleanings reduce the risk of cavities and decay in their teeth and gums.
In addition to gently cleaning your child’s gums and teeth and looking for decay, our team examines their entire mouth and jaw to ensure their development is on track. This includes checking if they’re hitting oral developmental milestones and if their teeth are growing correctly.
Taking your child to the dentist as a baby gets them used to dental visits from a young age and makes them feel more comfortable visiting the dentist. Our team is trained to work with young babies and help them have a good experience.
Well-baby dental visits benefit you as much as your baby. During these appointments, our team educates you on the best ways to clean and brush young children’s teeth.
We also advise you on topics like fluoride, nutrition, pacifier use, and thumb sucking. These visits also give you ample time to raise any questions or concerns.
Our team makes well-baby visits brief, usually around 15 minutes maximum, to ensure the maximum comfort for your baby. The first visit might take slightly longer, from 30 to 45 minutes.
We work to keep your infant as calm as possible during the visit but don’t be concerned if your child acts fussy or cries. To help them feel their best during the visit, we recommend they attend the appointment with a trusted caregiver. Schedule the visit for a time of day when your baby is usually well-rested and well-fed.
The well-baby exam includes the following:
We recommend you come in with any questions or topics you’d like to cover written down to ensure we address them. Most babies have well-baby visits every six months until they turn two years old, at which point they start getting dental cleanings instead.
At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry, the first well-baby visit is always complimentary. Contact us to schedule your infant’s dental visit.
