What To Expect From Your Child's First Dental Visit
If your child has a few teeth or is over the age of two, then your dentist may recommend that they start to get dental checkups. If this is your first baby, you may be wondering what on earth you can expect from their first visit; after all, having them lie still for a whole cleaning may seem impossible. Luckily, when you visit a pediatric dental clinic, they will know exactly how to handle the situation. This article will go over a few different things that you can expect from their first visit.
A Look In Their Mouth
If your dentist is going to get something out of your child's first visit, it's just going to be a quick look in their mouth. Depending on how old your child is and how many teeth they have will determine how long they will need to open their mouth for. Typically, an experienced pediatric dentist can just take a quick look at the health of their teeth and their gums and determine if they need any treatments. If everything looks good, then this may be all that they ask for during your child's next visit. Sometimes, however, they may want to try to do a quick cleaning.
A Quick Cleaning
If your child isn't screaming and crying, then your pediatric dentist may recommend that they do a quick cleaning while they are calm. Similar to an adult's tooth cleaning, a dentist will use a metal dental tool to scrape off any plaque or tartar buildup on their teeth or along their gum line. Because your child doesn't have a full mouth of teeth yet, it won't take your dentist very long to get the job done. After they have scraped their teeth, they may polish them with a fluoride solution. Depending on your child's age, they may not have fluoride in their toothpaste at home yet, and fluoride is one of the things that keeps their teeth strong and protected.
When it comes down to it, if your child is scared and having a hard time at their first dental visit, your pediatric dentist will try to cut everything short so that you can get out of there. If they are behaving well and aren't scared, then they may move forward with a cleaning. To learn more about what to expect at your child's first appointment, reach out to a pediatric dental clinic in your area.
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