First Dental Visit
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the first dental visit should occur when the first tooth erupts (approximately 6 months) or no later than his/her first birthday.
Dr. Ryan believes that getting off to an early start in routine dental care is vital to creating a lifetime of healthy teeth and dental habits.
Our focus at the initial appointment is to review important dental and medical information. Depending on your child’s age, we will perform a thorough dental exam with cleaning and fluoride treatments, and take necessary dental x-rays.
At the first visit the following will be discussed:
- A program of preventative home care including brushing, flossing, diet and the importance of fluoride.
- Assessment of dental caries (Cavities)
- Information on early childhood caries (ECC) including inappropriate nursing habits or sippy cups
- Facts about finger, thumb or pacifier habits
- Prevention of injuries to the mouth and teeth
- Growth and development
Our goal is to make the first visit a positive and enjoyable one for You and Your Child!!
What to Expect
You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.
It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”,”shot”, “pull”, “drill” or “hurt”. The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.