At what age should a child be taken to their first dental appointment? our daughter has one tooth that has erupted. is that early enough to make a special visit to the dentist, or do we have to wait for more teeth to come in?

A : A baby should have their first dental exam no later then when they turn one years old. There seems to be more than one recommendation for when the baby should be seen after their first tooth erupts. The more conservative recommendation is that the baby can be evaluated when the first tooth erupts; the other is that the baby should have a dental evaluation within six months of the eruption of the first tooth or by age one (whichever is sooner).

San : San fran, the current recommendations is to begin taking children at age 2 to the dentist. My experience has shown that you should take them to have fun (at least in my office) the earlier the better. What actually happens at that visit greatly depends upon the office you go to and, in my experience, the level at which your child communicates. By the way, never refer to it as the doctor's office, ouch. Hope this is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow dentistry at suburban square 610-649-0313.

You : You should take your baby with you to the dentist's office when you go to have your teeth cleaned. You should set them so that they can see what is happening to you so that they get used to the experience. As soon as their teeth are erupting you should see if they will allow their mouths to be examined. If you have already started using a soft moist flannel to clean their first teeth they should be used to it the intrusion. Remember to avoid any language which attempt to sound like it is diminishing the unusual on a dental visit. Speaking to a youngster even if you think they don't understand and using language like "we are just going to the dentist" or "it won't hurt" anything like that is going to set you up for a big fight when it come to having the acquiesce to allow treatment. I hope that makes sense! dr. Neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

2 special dates: 1st dental appt age 1. 1st orthodontic ck-up age 7. You can never go too early. You can only miss the appropriate window by going too late. Better to hear, "it's not time yet" than hear, "oops.".

Now is the time: The american academy of pediatric dentistry recommends parents and other care providers to help every child establish a dental home by 12 months of age. The guidelines state "children who have a dental homebare more likely to recieve appropriate preventive and routine oral health care. Referral by the primary care physician or health provider has been recommended, as early as 6 months of age.".

She is ready: The american academy of pediatric dentistry recommends that babies have their first visit to their pediatric dentist when they get their first tooth or by one years old. Many pediatric dental offices, like mine, do not charge for well baby dental visits up to 24 months old. This allows you and your child to get a good start on preventive dental care that will last a lifetime.