Pediatric Dentists Share Importance of a Child’s First Visit

Your Child's First Dental Examination

A Child's first visit to a pediatric dentist can be an enjoyable and memorable event.  The child will be treated kindly by professionals not only trained for his or her medical care, but who also have a passion for teaching the child about good oral care.  They also have a true love of children, engaging them in laughter and the wonder of learning.

When a child can visit a medical office that is designed to be a fun environment, they learn to anticipate their next visit rather than fear it.  We really enjoy this video of a compassionate dentist making the visit truly enjoyable for this little boy on the Dental Associates of Connecticut's YouTube channel.

She makes the use of sunglasses to avoid the bright dental light a fun experience and gives the patient a high five at the end of the brief examination here:

The first visit is also a very important step in caring for your child's lifelong oral health.  And as the following video shows it can be a pleasant experience.  However, it is surprising how many children do not have early or regular examinations.  Many begin to experience baby tooth decay and other problems years after they should have begun their examinations.

first pediatric dentist visit - YouTube

first pediatric dentist visit - YouTube

Is Decay a Common Problem for Children?

The following article from Inquirer Global Nation shares some disappointing data regarding how many children experience early decay in baby teeth which continues into adolescence.

Almost ten percent of young children have never had an oral examination.  This statistic is disheartening to a pediatric dentist as this leads to poor oral health and oral habits as an adult.
The article goes further to suggest that tooth decay is the leading chronic disease among early school-age children:

9% of California kids have never seen a dentist | Inquirer Global Nation

PALO ALTO, California – Nine percent of children ages 2 to 11 in 2013-14 had never had a dental visit, according to data from the California Health Interview Survey.
In over 12 additional counties, at least 10 percent of children hadn’t visited a dentist, including Santa Clara County, Sacramento County and Los Angeles County.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children ages 6 to 18. Untreated dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease, can affect a child’s health and quality of life by causing pain, nutritional and sleep problems, impaired concentration and increased school absences, as well as lost work hours for parents.

If dental disease is not treated early, it can result in more serious and expensive intervention later on. 9% of California kids have never seen a dentist | Inquirer Global Nation

What about Prevention?

In their informative blog, Dr. Natalie Harrison and Dr. Natalie Harrison agree with this assertion of pervasive early baby teeth decay.  However, they also provide great tips to help avoid these situations:

Essential Tooth Tips for the Parents of Infants & Toddlers - Dr. Natalie HarrisonDr. Natalie Harrison

Essential Tooth Tips for the Parents of Infants & Toddlers - Dr. Natalie HarrisonDr. Natalie Harrison More than 40% of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten.  In fact, The CDC reports that tooth decay is the most common preventable disease in children and while the cavity rate in children of older age groups has been slowly declining, the rise in cavities among those under 5 is actually increasing.
Unfortunately parents often wait too long to begin a routine of oral care and to start caring for emerging teeth.  Here are five essential tips to get your child started on the right path:

Be aware of the signs of baby tooth decay (spots or pits on teeth) and stay up to date on dental exams.

Getting into a daily habit of taking care of your child’s mouth as soon as possible will increase the likely-hood that you (and eventually your child) will keep up this healthy practice once teeth appear.

While using a brush isn’t advisable on infant gums and toothpaste isn’t needed before teeth emerge, using a soft wet washcloth gently wiped over gums twice a day is a great way to begin a regular oral routine for your child. This will help to keep bacteria at bay and will also keep your child’s gums healthy.
When the first teeth start to show up (usually around 6 months, but this can vary greatly from child to child), use a toothbrush specifically designed for babies. These brushes have smaller heads for smaller mouths and very soft bristles to avoid damaging sensitive gums. Brush your child’s teeth until he or she is able to brush properly themselves.

We hope this helps parents realize the importance of baby teeth and how common it is for babies to experience problems.  With this realization, it becomes easier for them to understand how important a good Pediatric dentist can be.  Contact our offices to discuss a visit with our pediatric dentists for early detection and prevention of problems with baby teeth.  Call us today.

YELP.jpg image from inquirer.net
Early-Infant-Oral-Care.jpg image from houstonspediatricdentist.com

Read Full Story Here:  http://woodlandpark.frontrangedentalcare.com/dentist/pediatric/first-visit