Regular Checkups
Don't brush off regular checkups to your child's dentist! Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining your son or daughter's good oral health. We encourage regular checkups at least every six months. Seeing the dentist twice a year is recommended because your child's dentist can:
- Check for problems that you might not see or that your child won't feel
- Find early signs of decay
- Treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable
Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning, polishing, and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, the doctor checks the health of your child's mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, the doctor also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack.
Your First Visit
Your child's first visit to the doctor typically includes an x-ray that allows the doctor to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and tooth decay.
The initial visit also involves getting your child's medical history. When you share your child's medical history with the doctor, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on their health. Inform the dentist if your child has experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if they have recently been ill. Also tell the doctor the names, doses, and frequency of any medications your child is taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your child's physician. Inform the doctor of any changes in your child's health or medications. It is also important to bring up any fears your child may have about dental treatment.
The information collected at the first visit will help the doctor select the safest and most effective method of treatment for your child.