Many parents ask the question: “When should I schedule my child’s first dental appointment?”
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends your child’s first dental visit by age 1 or when the first teeth begin to erupt. Establishing a dental home for your child at a young age establishes continuity of care and a relationship between the pediatric dentist, child, and parent. Building that relationship will allow your child to develop trust with the dentist/staff... and provide a solid foundation for positive dental care.
During that first visit, parents should receive information on oral hygiene instructions (brushing and flossing), intake of fluoride, consequences of prolonged oral habits (finger and thumb sucking, pacifier use), ways to prevent accidents that could damage the face and teeth, eruption/development of the teeth, and the correlation between diet and oral health.