First Visit

When should this be?

A child should visit the dentist before any problems develop! Ideally it should occur when he/she is 18 – 24 months old or as soon as the first few teeth erupt. We can then introduce your child to the dental clinic in a positive manner which will allow them to develop a positive outlook on their own dental health and dental treatment.

These early visits allow us to identify any risk factors for the development of dental diseases including dental decay and arm you as parents with lots of practical advice on prevention. Dental caries is a preventable disease and some small changes introduced early will ensure it does not develop. If dental decay is in the early stages an early intervention can help prevent more complex procedure later on – a stitch in time saves nine!

Practically speaking, an early visit to the dentist is an excellent way to learn proper oral hygiene at an early age, including practical advice on how to help your child brush their teeth and the correct use of fluoride toothpastes. Dietary advice is also important in the prevention of dental disease as frequent sugars can cause cavities and many ‘healthy’ foods contain hidden sugars.

Other important topics that we might cover at the first visit include:

• Oral habits – thumbsucking, soother etc

• Developmental milestones

• Teething and its implications

What to expect at the first visit?

The first dental visit is normally very short and usually involves very little treatment.

The emphasis at the first dental visit is on helping you as a parent to understand your child’s oral health and how to best care for your child’s dental needs. This visit will give you the chance to discuss any questions or concerns, which you may have with regards to any aspect of your child’s dental health.

This will involve a gentle introduction to the dental environment followed by a thorough dental examination. It may be necessary to take dental x-ray to complete the clinical picture. In most cases, treatment is not started at the initial consultation visit; this is to allow adequate time for a thorough examination of your child and a discussion with parents regarding their dental needs.

Following the initial visit you should be fully aware of the individual dental needs of your child and be armed with lots of practical hints on the prevention of dental diseases.You will also have lots on information of the proposed treatment plan for your child – It may be that there are several options and you might be invited to take some time at home to discuss these.