When Should a Child see a Dentist for the First Time?

A visit to the dentist is enough to terrify any adult. For a child, the experience can be even more traumatic. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children visit a dentist as soon as the child's first tooth erupts. By the AAPD's recommendations, the parents of teething infants should schedule a first dental appointment before the baby is even old enough to sit upright.

To parents like me, this may seem unreasonable, and my daughter's own pediatrician agrees. When I nervously asked if I was neglecting my baby by not scheduling a dentist's appointment as soon as her first tooth cut through, the doctor laughed. She told me that, during infancy, a dentist could diagnose early tooth decay, but there would be no way to treat it. A baby's first visit to the dentist really provides nothing more than a consultation to parents regarding ways to prevent cavities and other forms of tooth decay. While this advice is extremely valuable, the same information can be attained through your child's pediatrician or a visit to the AAPD website.

My daughter's doctor offered other opinions regarding the age at which children should visit the dentist. She recommended that parents take a baby to the dentist only after the baby has been weaned from breastfeeding. Many mothers, she said, have been "scared away" from breastfeeding unnecessarily by the common misconception that breastfeeding causes cavities. This misinformation is rampant within the dental practice: the AAPD website states that a baby should be weaned from the breast as soon as her teeth begin to erupt, but they state that bottles are acceptable until fourteen months of age. As renowned lactation expert Dr. Jack Newman observes, epidemiological studies actually indicate that formula-- not breastmilk-- is associated with a significantly higher incidence of cavities.

Much to my relief, my daughter's pediatrician recommended that I wait until my daughter was two to three years old before taking her to visit the dentist. She offered helpful guidelines for preventing cavities and instructed me about how to brush my daughter's newly-formed teeth. As I learned from several friends, most pediatricians and pediatric dentists believe that it is perfectly reasonable to schedule a child's first visit to the dentist between age two and three.

If you want to know when you should take your child to the dentist for the first time, I'd advise you to ask your child's own pediatrician for a recommendation. If your child is at a high risk of developing cavities, he may need to visit the dentist earlier than most children. However, if your child eats a healthy, low-sugar diet and has his teeth brushed at least twice daily, your doctor will probably give you the go-ahead to wait until his second birthday. Always follow your pediatrician's guidelines regarding fluoride, diet and oral hygiene. Notify your child's health care provider immediately if you notice staining, bleeding, redness, or inflammation anywhere in your child's mouth.