September 21, 2023

Your Child’s First Dentist Visit: What Age and What To Expect

Regular dental checkups should start around their first birthday

Baby and father with dentist learning about tooth care

When your baby’s first tooth erupts, it’s a big deal. It’s a rite of passage — a sign they’re growing up (way too fast). And let’s be real, it’s just so cute!

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

That tooth is just the first of many more to come. And keeping all 20 baby teeth healthy and clean is important to your baby’s health. It’s also the beginning of instilling in them a lifelong commitment to good dental care — including brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly.

But when should kids start going to the dentist, and what does a dentist even do for baby teeth? General dentist Anne Clemons, DMD, explains.

When should babies start going to the dentist?

You should take your child for a first visit to the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first appearance of their first tooth, whichever comes first. Babies tend to sprout their first tooth around 6 months old. And more are usually quick to follow. So, scheduling that first dentist visit right around their first birthday is a safe bet for most kids.

Following that initial visit, many dentists recommend children come back every six months. Regular visits help build up your child’s comfort and confidence in visiting the dentist. It also gives the dentist plenty of time to monitor the development of their teeth and promptly treat any potential problems.

Why do baby teeth matter so much?

Baby teeth (also called primary teeth) will fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, probably starting around age 6 or so. So, it can be tempting to think of them as somewhat disposable. But in reality, those baby teeth are important to your child’s development.

Among other important roles, baby teeth aid in the development of clear speech. And they help give your child’s permanent teeth a healthy start. In fact, decay and infections in baby teeth can damage their permanent teeth. So, even though those teeth are temporary, caring for them is really important for your child’s dental health.

Like so many other things, dental concerns are more easily treated when they’re caught early. Or even better, prevented to begin with.

“Catching cavities early and learning how to prevent them in the first place is the best way to keep your child’s baby teeth — and eventually their permanent teeth — healthy,” Dr. Clemons states.

Advertisement

Choosing a dentist

When choosing your child’s dentist, you may be wondering whether you can just take your little nugget to your own dentist’s office, or if a pediatric dentist is a must.

General dentists are trained to care for your oral health starting at infancy and all through your adult years. Pediatric dentists are more specialized and primarily treat babies, kids and teens. They have at least two additional years of training beyond dental school, where they focus specifically on childhood dentistry and childhood development.

Dr. Clemons says whether your baby sees a general dentist or a pediatric dentist is a matter of your family’s preferences. “All dentists can address your child’s oral health care needs. But a pediatric dentist, their staff and even their office décor are typically geared to care for children and can help put them at ease.”

If your child is showing signs of developmental delays or if you have concerns about their growth, you may want to consider a pediatric dentist. If you’re unsure, ask your dentist or a child’s healthcare provider, like a pediatrician, what they recommend for your child.

What happens at your child’s first dental visit?

What happens during a kid’s first dentist appointment will vary some based on their age, any issues they’re experiencing and other factors.

But you can expect that their first few visits to the dentist will be mostly a chance to get your child comfortable with the process and for the dentist to share their best advice.

The dentist will likely also do an exam of your child’s teeth. Some dentists may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the exam. During the examination, the dentist will check your child’s existing teeth for decay, examine your child’s bite, and look for any potential issues with their gums, jaw and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride.

Their dentist will likely also share advice with you about oral health care for children, discuss any dental developmental issues and answer your questions.

Advertisement

Topics your dentist may discuss with you include:

  • Good oral hygiene practices for your child’s teeth and gums.
  • Cavity prevention, including best practices for brushing and flossing.
  • Fluoride needs.
  • Oral habits (like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting and lip sucking).
  • Developmental milestones.
  • Teething.
  • Proper nutrition.
  • Scheduling future dental visits.

What about dental X-rays?

You’re probably used to getting dental X-rays taken every year or so. But X-rays aren’t necessarily going to be part of your child’s dental routine at first.

“There is no hard-and-fast rule for when to start getting dental X-rays,” Dr. Clemons notes. “Some children who may be at higher risk for dental problems, such as kids prone to baby bottle tooth decay or kids with cleft lip/palate, should have X-rays taken earlier than others. But there’s a lot of variation.”

Most children will have X-rays taken around the age of 5 or 6. That’s because as children begin to get their adult teeth, X-rays will play a more important role. X-rays help your child’s dentist see if all of their adult teeth are growing in their jaw, if they have any bite problems, and whether their teeth are clean and healthy.

Dental hygiene for babies and toddlers

In between regular dental visits, daily oral hygiene should be part of your baby’s routine. That includes habits like:

Starting regular dental care early is important to your child’s oral and overall health. As you show off baby’s new chompers to your friends and family, make it a priority to get in touch with a dentist. They want a look at those pearly whites, too.

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Parent helping toddler brush their teeth while in the bathroom
March 13, 2024
Tips for Preventing Cavities in Children

Help and encourage them to brush and floss regularly, limit sugary foods and get routine dental checkups

person leaning over sink brushing teeth
March 7, 2024
What Do Your Hormones Have To Do With Your Oral Health?

Estrogen and progesterone changes throughout the month — and throughout your life — can make you more prone to dental health concerns

person filling out paperwork at medical office
January 11, 2024
How Does Dental Insurance Work? Types and Coverage

Benefits typically include bi-annual screenings and lower payments on procedures like fillings and crowns

nocovaine needle entering mouth with dental mirror
December 3, 2023
How Long Does Novocaine Last?

The numbness and tingling should wear off in about two hours

Person drinking glass of ice water through straw.
October 18, 2023
What To Do When You Burn the Roof of Your Mouth

Get quick relief with ice chips, popsicles, milk and saltwater

Mouth showing missing tooth and glass of milk with saved tooth immersed in the liquid.
August 27, 2023
What To Do When You Knock Out a Tooth

Act quickly to increase the chances that your tooth can be saved

Making a salt-water mouthwash
July 31, 2023
7 Remedies To Heal a Burnt Tongue

Ice, saline rinses, OTC pain meds and honey can all help soothe a troubled taster

person with bad breath cloud talking to another person
July 23, 2023
Poop Breath? These Could Be the Reasons Why

Chronic and extreme bad breath could signal a health issue that needs attention

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad