A baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone in their development. Baby teeth, while temporary, are your child’s primary teeth. They serve as important placeholders for the future permanent teeth. Also referred to as primary teeth, baby teeth shape the way your child chews and speaks. Decay and pain are just as possible with baby teeth as permanent teeth. Scheduling your child’s first dental appointment sets a strong foundation for their future oral health by providing preventative care and identifying potential problems.
Planning a Child’s First Visit to a Boulder, Colorado Dentist
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that a child should visit a dentist after their first tooth appears and before their first birthday. Subsequent appointments should occur every 6 months to a year, depending upon the child, their oral health, and their comfort with the process. Generally in our office we start seeing children at the age of two.
Kids dentistry, also known as pediatric dentistry, requires a high level of care and a gentle approach. The professional team of the North Boulder Dental Group has over 30 years of experience treating all ages of Boulder, Colorado residents. From small children to teenagers, we understand and value the impact positive dental visits have for a child’s dental future.
That’s why our kid’s dentistry appointments are referred to as “Happy Visits”. To make the visit as less traumatic as possible, we explain how things work and what happens in a fun and engaging way. Here are just a few of our proven methods when it comes to working with young dental patients:
- The chair moves! We believe in demonstrating how the chair moves so there are no surprises once they sit in it.
- The room is sunny. The bright light is the sun, lighting the room and helping everyone to see better.
- Mr. Thirsty is a helper; so is the water syringe (it squirts!) and other instruments that make noise or motion.
Communicating with children on their level eases their apprehension of an unfamiliar place and process. Once we have earned their trust, the visit may include X-rays or counting their teeth to look for decay. Examining for any signs of potential decay is especially important in young children. Anything we can do to relax our young patients in order to get this done benefits everyone: It helps parents to understand the need for further care and helps our team plan that care accordingly.
Happy Visit
The first visit to a dentist may include the following:
- An oral exam to check growth and development
- An evaluation to see if your child is at risk for tooth decay
- Discuss teething, pacifier use, and habits such as finger or thumb sucking
- Determining whether your child is getting enough fluoride
- A cleaning and helpful tips for cleaning your child’s teeth at home
Make sure your baby is truly a well baby by establishing an oral health care routine during their first year. Ease any anxiety of the process by choosing a trusted pediatric dentist like those of the North Boulder Dental Group. Due to each child developing differently, it is important to bring each child in for a visit, not just your first.
What You’ll Learn
Just because your child has their baby teeth doesn’t mean they don’t need to be brushed. Brushing a baby’s teeth and wiping their gums is recommended by the ADA. Our highly experienced team will educate you on the best methods for getting your baby’s teeth as clean as possible.
Sore or tender gums are part of the teething process. Most babies develop an average of 20 baby teeth by the age of 3, making for a long and painful process. Comfort your baby with a chilled baby teething ring and stay away from over-the-counter pain relieving gels; these have been known to cause serious reactions in infants.
Avoid sugary drinks in their baby bottles and refrain from dipping pacifiers in sugary substances. Both actions can result in tooth decay. Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day using a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Try lying your child across your lap to obtain better access.
Brushing your child’s teeth until they are age 6 is another recommendation from the ADA. It is at this time that permanent teeth will begin to replace their baby teeth, making it a great time to introduce self brushing. Monitoring their teeth brushing is still an important parental role. Ensuring they are brushing twice a day and in a proper way will make future dental visits even more successful.
North Boulder Dental Group: A Great Place for Starting Your Child’s Dental Care Journey
As new or even established parents, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. The demands of caring for a baby can easily result in pushing their dental care until they are older. Be proactive rather than reactive by scheduling their first dental visit as soon as their first tooth appears. Don’t wait until there is an emergency, such as pain from decay, to schedule a visit.
Our professional team has years of experience in working with children of all ages. We take great pride in the level of comfort and care we are able to provide children and their parents. Knowing your child and their overall health history helps us when a dental emergency does arise.
If you live in the Boulder, Colorado area and are seeking kid-friendly dentistry, call (303) 447-1042 or contact us online today. Our highly skilled team will put you and your child at ease, resulting in a “Happy Visit”.
The North Boulder Dental Group is conveniently located within one-quarter mile from the Boulder Medical Center. Located 25 miles north of Denver, we serve Boulder and the surrounding region. Discover why North Boulder Dental Group was named Best of Boulder County in 2018.
Start your baby on the right path to a healthy oral future by scheduling their first dental visit today.
