First visit to a
Pediatric Dentist

The importance of visiting the dentist by age 1 has long been stressed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), which has now released new research producing a predictive model for cavity risk in children. This 3-year study involving over 2,000 infants found that the chances of a child being diagnosed with early childhood caries (tooth decay) more than doubles for each year the initial dental visit is delayed. Mathematically, this means that waiting until age 5 to see your pediatric dentist increases your child’s odds of having a cavity at that visit by almost 20 times.

During the study, pediatric healthcare providers expressed the importance of dental care as an integral part of a child’s overall health, however, most also indicated that, due to time constraints during well-child visits, a need has arisen for a simple assessment tool to predict cavity risk. The AAPD study provides variables to assist pediatric healthcare professionals in identifying those children who are at higher risk for tooth decay.

• Child’s age
• History of preventive dental care visits
• Breastfeeding duration
• Broken or no-show appointment rates
• Spoken language preference

The newly developed predictive model can help pediatricians easily identify (during a well-child visit) patients who are more likely to have tooth decay without taking time from the other health areas being addressed during the check-up. Not only can the use of caries risk assessment tools be a great advantage in helping maintain good oral health for those who are at-risk, but they can also contribute to overall general health, as dental problems can be an indicator of poor nutrition, as well as lead to various other health concerns.

In addition to examining your child’s teeth and gums, your pediatric dentist will also check for proper jaw growth and begin a relationship with your child so that he/she will feel comfortable at future dental visits and will be less likely to experience dental anxiety. Forging this relationship in a relaxed, non-threatening environment is less stressful to a child than waiting until he/she is in pain and in need of treatment to visit the dentist for the first time.

Any problems detected during this first visit can be addressed early, keeping them from progressing any further and causing any additional health problems. If the beginning stages of decay are detected in time, your dentist may be able to apply a fluoride varnish to the affected areas to reverse the process.

Research shows that children who visit the dentist by their first birthday:

• Are more likely to continue with future preventive visits
• Are less likely to need subsequent restorative visits or emergency dental treatments
• Have an average of $300 less dental expense than those who wait until age 3 to see the dentist (figures do not include emergency and hospital visits covered in medical rather than dental costs)

Other studies have shown that almost 20% of pediatric dental emergencies are due to early childhood caries, and half of those cases involved children under 3 ½ years of age.

Researchers have been focused on this topic and the question of why the incidence of tooth decay is on the rise while dental technology has increasingly improved. The concern that preventive dentistry is not utilized or stressed as well as it should be by healthcare professionals as a whole and the need for creating a simple way to do so were 2 of the main catalysts for the 3-year study launched by the AAPD.

The development of the caries assessment tool (the predictive model for identifying caries risk) is a positive step in helping all healthcare providers work together to provide patients with a lifetime of good oral health, as well as helping parents recognize the importance of early preventive dental care.

Contact Lonestar Kid’s Dentistry to schedule an appointment. We strive to be on time for all appointments, but please be aware that an emergency may occur that causes a slight delay. Children in pre-school and elementary grades are usually seen in the morning. Late afternoon appointments are reserved for middle and high school age patients. School absence forms will be provided if needed.

Your appointment is specifically reserved for your child. Please allow a 24-hour notice for cancellation so that your appointment may be made available to another patient.

What to expect during your first visit

• Examine teeth for cavities.
• Examine gums for infection.
• Look for other mouth abnormalities.
• Evaluate occlusion, the way teeth come together.
• Check for sufficient room for permanent teeth.
• Determine the effects of childhood habits (thumb sucking, pacifiers, bottles, etc.)
• May take x-rays to locate decay, infections, position and location of teeth.
• Evaluate and review brushing, flossing, fluoride and diet tips.
• Developing a plan to keep your child cavity free!

Our highly trained staff understands that a visit to the dentist may be overwhelming not only for the children, but parents as well. We do our best at making patients and parents feel comfortable during every step of the process. Parents can help by being completely natural and easy going when it comes time for children’s dentist appointments.