When should my child have his/her first dental visit?

Parents frequently ask me, “When should my child have his/her first dental visit?”  When I tell them I like to have the first visit at 6 months of age, the typical response is a look of shock!

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that the year one dental visit can actually save money. A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40% lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.

Having the first dental visit with your child at an early age has many benefits.  If there are any dental problems, we can detect them early and treat them conservatively.  It also gives us the opportunity to answer questions about your child’s oral health care to make sure you are doing everything you can as a parent to ensure optimum health. Most importantly, early dental visits can help to build lifelong habits for your child and prevent unnecessary fear of going to the dentist.

At Rolling Oaks Dental, we welcome children of all ages.  Our staff is trained to take extra special care of your child.  If you like what you see, we welcome YOU the parent to become a patient as well!  Enjoy the convenience of having one dental office for your entire family.

Be sure to check us out on MerchantCircle!
Larry Dougherty, DMD

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