Baby's First Dental Visit

Are you an expecting parent or have an infant at home? Have you thought about your child’s oral health plan? The team of pediatric dental specialists at Timber Falls Pediatric Dentistry in Gilbert Arizona can help. At the first dental visit, Dr. Quackenbush will examine the child to make sure the jaw and teeth are developing in the way they should. This is mostly done through counting and visually checking the teeth. Rarely will your baby need x-rays on their first dental visit. After your first dental visit, there may arise a need for x-rays and computer imaging to allow our pediatric dentist to predict and correct future oral problems in your child, such as an over/under bite, teeth grinding, and jaw irregularities.

The American Dental Association says baby’s first dental visit should occur within 6 months after baby’s first tooth appears, but no later than the child’s first birthday. This is because risks can begin with baby’s first tooth and improper caring/brushing of baby teeth can cause bacteria to develop in the body, which can lead to inflammation and disease. According to Stephanie Goodson, M.D., a pediatrician at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, “Dental disease is the most common childhood chronic disease.” It is a good idea to set up baby’s first dental visit after the first primary tooth arrives because pediatric dentists are specially trained to identify signs of early decay and provide preventative services to stop the dental disease from progressing. Some of these preventative services include fluoride treatments or sealants and composite fillings. Dr. Quackenbush can easily assess what treatments, if any, are necessary at your first dental visit.

If you’re wondering when should a baby have their first dental visit, we recommend scheduling that first dental visit appointment within 6 months of baby’s first tooth. Children begin to get their baby teeth during the first six months of life. As soon as your baby has teeth, they can get cavities and teeth need to be brushed as soon as they emerge. At your child’s first dental visit, we will go over proper brushing techniques for home care.

Dr. Quackenbush at Timber Falls Pediatric Dentistry has been recognized as a top-rated pediatric dentist by Phoenix Magazine from 2003-2020! Our office in Gilbert Arizona is open Monday through Thursday 7 am-5 pm and serves patients from Chandler, Mesa, and the East Valley Community as well. The team at Timber Falls Pediatric Dentistry takes excellent care to build a comfortable first dental visit experience for you and your child. We believe exposure builds comfort for future dental visits and that your first dental visit shouldn’t be long and traumatic. At Timber Falls Pediatric Dentistry, your child’s first dental should be short and involve very little treatment.