Hi, I’m Fredrika, one of the Oral Health Therapists here from Dental House Group.
Last week, I was with one of our new patients, Tom from Diggers Rest, for his check-up and clean. He and his wife recently had a new son, Luke, and he asked me, “When should I start bringing Luke in for his dental check-up and why?”
This is such a common question we get from new parents, so I thought I’d make a quick video sharing with you what I shared with him, just in case you are curious about this as well.
It’s recommended that children visit the dentist when their first tooth erupts. Baby teeth can erupt any time after six months. We recommend taking him or her in within 6 to 12 months at the latest.
What will happen at their initial check-up?
The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. Your child will sit on your lap in the dental chair. We will assess the health of their gums and review their tooth eruption. We will check all of the existing teeth for tooth decay.
We will go through important topics, such as:
- What to look for when your baby is teething
- How to care for their first tooth and gums
- Baby bottle tooth decay
- What to do if your child has an injury
- Oral habits such as thumb sucking and its long-term impact
- Nutritional advice for your child
It’s good to visit the dentist at an early age to help avoid any dental fear. We like to see children every 6 months to build up comfort and confidence in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of teeth, and promptly treat any developing problems. If you notice anything out of the ordinary before this time, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so book an appointment straight away.
