Oral Hygiene
First Tooth/Age 1 Dental Visit
The American Dental Association (ADA), The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and our office suggest bringing in children for their first visit when their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. An early first visit will reduce their anxiety later on, establish a dental home, and encourage good hygiene habits. During your visit, we will talk about dental hygiene and education, tooth eruption sequence, prevention of sucking habits, diet counseling, teething, trauma prevention, and oral health maintenance. We will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
New Patients: Initial Exam/Evaluation
For our new patients, please see our First Visit/New Patients page for more information. On the day of your appointment, the dentist will:
- perform an initial exam: note missing teeth, cavities, previous procedures done, etc.
- review your medical and dental history
- evaluate and discuss dental development
- evaluate soft tissue
- take necessary x-rays
- scaling to remove plaque or calculus/tartar
- polishing
- fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities
- oral hygiene instruction and education (such as proper brushing and flossing techniques)
- nutritional counseling
- propose and review treatment plans
Regular Check-ups and Cleanings
It is generally recommended to visit a dentist for a check-up at least once every 6 months. However, more frequent visits may be necessary if your child has an increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns, poor oral hygiene, or other factors. Regular check-ups and cleanings are important to help prevent cavities and reinforce good hygiene habits like proper brushing and flossing. We also use this opportunity to monitor the development and condition of your child's teeth and recommend treatments as needed.
For check-ups, we generally provide the same services as the initial exam with the exception of x-rays (unless needed).
See this Brochure by AAPD on Regular Dental Visits