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Your child experiences many kinds of growth in their early years. One of the early milestones you can expect is their first teeth growing in.
At Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, Staci Brunell, DMD, and Priyanka Patel, DMD, are dedicated to helping infants and toddlers get started with the best oral health. Understand when you should start taking your child to the dentist.
The age your child gets their first tooth can vary. Most children start getting teeth sometime between four and 15 months old.
On average, you can expect your child to get their first tooth at around six months old. Whenever your child gets that first tooth, your first step should be to schedule a well baby visit.
You don’t need to wait to take your child to the dentist. Even the smallest babies benefit from pediatric dental care once they get teeth.
Once your child celebrates their first birthday, you should schedule your child for a well baby exam even if they don’t have any teeth yet. Our team still examines your child’s mouth and checks to see if they’re on track to hitting their oral milestones
An exam when your child doesn’t have teeth yet also involves looking at their gums, mouth, and jaw. We show you how to properly care for and clean your child’s gum area.
Until your child turns two, your child attends a first visit or well baby visit with one of our team members. These visits are especially geared toward young children.
A first visit takes up to 45 minutes and involves getting to know you and your child, alongside a full examination of their entire mouth. You also have the opportunity to ask questions and help your child get comfortable visiting the dentist.
To ensure your child is comfortable, well baby visits take a maximum of 15 minutes. You can remain with your child, even holding them on your lap throughout the appointment.
Along with checking for tooth decay and performing an oral exam, our team teaches you how to keep your child’s gums and first baby teeth clean. We advise you on the best nutrition, fluoride, and other prevention to keep your child healthy.
If we discover any issues related to your child’s oral health, we make a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Once your child turns two, they graduate from well baby visits to dental cleanings. Cleanings are deeper than your child's brushing at home and allow us to remove plaque and tartar, check for cavities, and finish with a fluoride treatment.
Whether they’ve never visited the dentist or are behind on their cleanings, it’s not too late to start taking your child to see the dentist at any age. Children benefit from starting dental care anytime and can get back on track.
If it’s time for your child to see the dentist for the first time, contact us to schedule their first visit.
