The goal of early dental visits is a child who finds the dentist unremarkable. Almost everything else follows from that, because a child who is comfortable in the chair can be treated calmly if they ever need to be. Children should have a first dental visit by the age of one or when the first tooth appears, and early visits are mostly about getting comfortable, checking how teeth and the jaw are developing and teaching parents how to brush, floss, manage snacks and handle habits like thumb sucking.
Why people book children's dentistry
A symptom isn't required.
- A first visit around the time the first teeth appear
- Establishing a routine before any problem exists
- A child complaining of toothache
- A knocked or damaged baby tooth
- Concern about thumb sucking or a developing bite
- Preparing an anxious child for treatment
What the visit usually covers
- Familiarization visits with no treatment
- Examination, cleaning and fluoride or sealants
- Advice on brushing, diet and drink frequency
- Monitoring adult teeth as they arrive
- Early orthodontic assessment where the bite suggests it
- Referral to a pediatric specialist where appropriate
How early visits usually go
The first appointments are about building familiarity, not finding problems.
- A short, friendly look with the child sitting up or on a parent's lap
- Counting teeth and looking, often with no instruments
- Brushing and diet advice aimed at the parent
- Fluoride varnish if the child is comfortable
- Building up over visits to a full examination
- Treatment only once the child is ready, unless urgent
Common questions
Children's Dentistry: questions people ask
When should my child first see a dentist?
Guidance generally points to around the time the first teeth appear or by the first birthday. Early visits are about familiarity rather than treatment.
Do baby teeth matter if they fall out anyway?
Yes. They hold space for the adult teeth, are needed for eating and speech, and decay in them can be painful and can affect the developing tooth underneath.
My child will not open their mouth. What happens?
Nothing is forced. A first visit where the child simply sits in the chair is a success, and practices used to children expect this.
How do I stop them being afraid?
Take them early and often before anything needs doing, keep your own language neutral, and avoid words like hurt or needle. Booking your own appointment first for them to watch can help.
How much toothpaste should a young child use?
Amounts are age-dependent and the practice will advise for your child. Supervised brushing until they have the dexterity to do it well themselves is the general principle.
How do a child's first dental visits usually go?
The first appointments are about building familiarity, not finding problems. It is a short, friendly look with the child sitting up or on a parent's lap. The team counts teeth, often with no instruments. Advice on brushing and diet is aimed at the parent. Fluoride varnish follows if the child is comfortable. Treatment comes only once the child is ready, unless urgent.