(Your Baby’s First Dental Visit first appeared in the Public Opinion Newspaper in January 2015) Carrie Derk, RDH, PHDHP, Dental Care Coordinator at Keystone Dental Care in Chambersburg says parents and caregivers need to learn to care for baby’s teeth shortly after baby’s birth.
Baby’s First Dental Appointment
Parents should take their baby to the dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts because it’s critical for parents to learn how to properly brush their child’s teeth and the importance of not putting juice and sweet liquids in sippy cups. Teaching parents what causes tooth decay is an important part of the first dental appointment.
Prevention
The dental provider will also look at your baby’s mouth and erupting teeth for any abnormalities and first signs of tooth decay. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend an infant receive an oral assessment by a dentist around 6 months of age and become an established dental patient at the eruption of the first tooth or 12 months of age.
Exam
The dentist or hygienist will perform a dental exam and screening at your baby’s first visit. Your dental provider will be looking at all of the child’s soft tissues in the mouth including lips, cheeks, tongue, back of the throat, lip attachments, and teeth. Providers also spend time talking with caregivers about their own dental health. If parents have good oral habits and health, so will their children.
Harmful Bacteria
If the child does not have any teeth at the time of the assessment, the dental provider will talk to caregivers about how cavities develop, how bacteria is shared between child and caregiver or siblings (such as sharing spoons, cleaning pacifiers with the mouth, putting infants fingers in mouth, toys), oral hygiene instructions, teething, diet, fluoride, injury prevention, and non-nutritive habits (thumb or pacifier sucking).
Preventive Care
The provider will also assess the attachments of the lips and tongue and determine if they are in the appropriate position. Sometimes they are not which can cause problems with the infant’s ability to breastfeed as well as possible speech difficulties or teeth alignment issues. If necessary, a referral will be made to have this corrected.
For more information about Keystone Dental Care, click here.
This article contains general information only and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment or care by a qualified health care provider.
