When should kids first see a dentist? “First visit by first birthday”. Dental problems can begin early and it is important to put kids on a prevention program while they are young.
First Appointment
When should kids first see a dentist? When the first tooth comes in your child should see a dentist, usually between 6 and 12 months. The first visit introduces your child to the dental sights and sounds, which helps to make future dental procedures much more pleasurable. A prevention program is established for your child and valuable information is provided to parents.
Sealants
Sealants are easily placed and are very effective at reducing decay. They are placed on the chewing surfaces of teeth in the back of the mouth (molars and premolars) to protect against decay. Sealants have been shown to reduce dental decay by 87% in the first year and by 60% for 4.5 years after they are initially placed.1
- Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Hiiri A, Nordblad A, Mäkelä M,WorthingtonHV. Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008;(4)CD001830.