Your Child’s First Dental Visit

The first time your child should be seen by the dentist is around 1 year of age.

At Elegant Smiles, we really enjoy treating children and encourage you to bring them with you to your dental visits. This means the children get used to the sounds and smells of the dentist before they become patients giving them a much more pleasant dental experience. At no point will we force any child to do anything they are not ready for, and this allows us provide them with a happier dental experience.

The main reasons for this visit are to:

  • get them used to the sights and smells of a dental practice
  • examine the teeth for risk factors associated with dental decay
  • provide advice and information

There are a number of developmental issues affecting the oral cavity that are best detected as early as possible. These include:

  • soft tissue problems
  • assessment of the correct timing of tooth eruption
  • detection of problems with the enamel development

Detection of defects of enamel is important, as teeth showing defects are more likely to develop decay.

The Australiasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry recommend that the first oral examination takes place after the eruption of the first baby tooth and no later than twelve months of age. Early identification of children at risk of developing dental decay and detection of early decay lesions provides and opportunity to prevent further decay from occurring and attempt to remineralise, or reverse the initial decay lesions. Not only do developmental defects increase the decay risk for your child, so does a high frequency of sugar intake.

Being able to assess your child’s mouth around the age of 1 year and assess their teeth allows us to predict if they will get early childhood decay. Children who at 12 months of age have visible plaque on their teeth are more likely to have decay at 3 years of age than children who are relatively plaque free at 12 months. Children who have their teeth brushed before 12 months of age also have lower decay experience than children whose teeth were started to be brushed at 13 months of age.

To make a dental appointment for your child, please call 9474-1477 during business hours or contact us online to arrange an appointment.

We’re conveniently located just off the freeway at Suite 4, Level 1, 77 South Terrace in South Perth.