Dedicated Dental Blog

Many parents take their children’s oral health for granted. Most parents in the United States do not bring their children to a dentist.

The best time to start seeing a pediatric dentist is when your child’s teeth first begin to erupt from the gums.

Garrett was four when he went to see his new dentist. Fidgeting in the big dental chair and anxiously holding onto Pooky (his stuffed teddy bear), he cautiously asked the dentist if Pooky could go first. The dentist smiled and “examined” Pooky. After seeing it was all fine, Garrett had his own exam. Years later he still remembered this, and was never afraid of a visit to the dentist again. This may be a wonderful story, but studies show that a full 20% of school aged children are afraid of the dentist. Finding the right dentist, along with the proper approach, can help to prevent a lifelong dental anxiety that ultimately can lead to poor oral health.

Congratulations on your beautiful new baby! Being a parent is an awesome job that brings many rewards. It also carries much responsibility. By the time you left the hospital, you probably had baby’s first doctor visit scheduled. By the end of that visit, you knew exactly how often you would be returning for check ups and immunizations, probably for the next three years. So, when are you going to the dentist? You may not have planned that yet, but it is every bit as important to the health and wellbeing of your child. Dental decay is the most common childhood illness, and what you do as a parent will have a great effect on your child’s dental health, both now and for years to come. Protecting your child from dental cavities is just one of the many benefits of pediatric dental care.

Whether your toddler has a mouth filled with teeth or only a few poking through, it’s time to start thinking about oral hygiene and their smiles. Taking your child to the dentist at a young age is the best way to prevent problems such as tooth decay, and can help parents learn how to clean their child's teeth and identify his or her fluoride needs. After all, decay can occur as soon as teeth start to appear. Bringing your child to the dentist early often leads to a lifetime of good oral care habits and acclimates your child to the dental office, thereby reducing anxiety and fear, which will make for plenty of stress-free visits in the future.