Q: When Should Parents Take Their Children for Their First Dental Checkup?

A: This is a very popular question; we always say, First Tooth or First Birthday.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry agrees that children should visit their dentist when the first tooth erupts, usually between six and 12 months of age, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first.

Parents seldom bring their infants or toddlers in for a dental visit, therefore the damage caused by the decay is often not diagnosed until the child has a severe oral health problem.

The purpose of an early visit is to educate the parent on the steps which can be taken on cavity prevention. It’s important to keep baby teeth healthy since they serve many functions such as helping in speech development, providing chewing surfaces, saving space for the permanent teeth, allowing normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, and for a good self image.