A common question asked by parents is, ‘When should my child have their first visit to the dentist?’ The answer, according to the Canadian Dental Association, is within six months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age. There are several benefits to early visits including prevention of disease and reducing future costs.

“Dental caries” is the most common chronic disease among North American children. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) may have a lasting detrimental impact on the development and well-being of the child. ECC is mainly caused by the frequent and prolonged use of a bottle containing milk and sugary liquids as a pacifier or putting the child to sleep at night or at naptime.

The goal is to have your child visit the dentist before there is a problem with his or her teeth. Here are some of the reasons to take your child for dental check-ups:

• You can find out if the cleaning you do at home is working
• Discuss oral habits, including finger and thumb sucking
• Learn ways to prevent oral and facial accidents and trauma
• Learn the relationship between diet and oral health
• Your dentist can find problems right away and fix them

Early preventative visits can reduce the need for restorative and emergency care, therefore reducing dentally related costs for your children in the future. It also allows your child to develop a relationship with their dental family.

Depending on the age of the child, we will familiarize them with the dental equipment completing a “show and tell” tour of the clinical area. After a thorough exam we will review our findings and provide a full explanation of any treatment that may be needed. At the conclusion of the appointment children will be rewarded for a job well done by a visit to the “treasure chest.”

So make sure to schedule your child’s first visit during their first year of life for a bright future for their oral health.