What to Expect at Your Child's First Dental Visit

A child's first year of life is filled with many important checkups to ensure his or her health. In addition to checkups with the pediatrician, it's also important to take your son or daughter to the dentist. Knowing what to expect at your  baby's first dental exam can help put both of you at ease.

Oral Evaluation

The first thing that your Bronx dentist will do is perform an oral evaluation of your child. The dentist will look at how many teeth your child has. The dentist will also evaluate the condition of those teeth. The rest of the mouth, including your child's palate, tongue, gums and jaws will also be looked over by the dentist.

Discussion About Oral Care

Your child's dentist will provide you with hints and tips about how to care for your child's teeth. You'll learn about the best types of toothbrushes and toothpastes based upon your child's age and development. You'll also learn techniques on brushing your child's teeth and how to gain your child's cooperation in performing oral hygiene.

Overview of Healthy Dental Habits

If you have questions or concerns about dental health and habits, your dentist can answer them at the checkup. You may want to ask about habits such as thumb sucking, the use of pacifiers or when to stop using a baby bottle. The dentist will also give you tips about foods that are good for the baby’s oral health.