Your Child’s First Dental Visit

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New parents often ask, “When should my child first see a dentist?” The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics both agree that children should visit a pediatric dentist by age one.

National studies have shown that preschool-aged children are getting more cavities. More than one in four children in the United States have had at least one cavity by the age of four, and many children get cavities as early as age two. Comprehensive initial exams for children under the age of two are always complimentary at the office of Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry for Children.

At the initial one year visit, Dr. Caldwell and his staff will discuss how to care for an infant’s or toddler’s mouth; oral habits, including finger and thumb sucking; how to handle dental emergencies and accidents that could damage the face and teeth; bottle feeding and nursing as it relates to decay; teething and eruption of teeth and the link between diet and oral health.

Dr. Caldwell recommends the first cleaning and X-rays between the age of two and a half and three years. When preparing a child for his first visit, use fun and positive words. Dr. Caldwell and his staff have expertise in handling the special needs and circumstances of all children. A positive dental experience is accomplished through efficient teamwork and a gentle patient approach. It is Dr. Caldwell’s goal to not only meet parents’ expectations of their children’s dental experience, but surpass it.

Larry Caldwell, DDS Dentistry for Children is the home of Tillie the Tooth and the Harp Orthodontic Flosser.

For more information, call 281-565-KIDS (5437).