New parents are sometimes unsure of when they should bring their child in for their first dental visit. I suggest that between 2 1/2 and 3 years of age is the right time. At that point he or she has a full compliment of baby (primary) teeth and should be checked for any problems. I have always made the first visit an easy one by giving the young one a ride in the dental chair, counting their teeth with a quick look for obvious issues and then giving them a toy to make the whole experience quick and positive. If there is nothing of concern found at that point (such as evidence of baby bottle syndrome, the subject of next weeks blog ), a few weeks later we would book a second visit with a hygienist for a quick polish to introduce a little more of what future visits will be like. It’s so important early on to establish a relationship of trust and ease so that the a fear of the dentist never arises.
Dr. Jay Rabinovich