For routine care, children can begin going to the dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts, but should begin going no later than their first birthday. Parents who have concerns about anything related to their child's mouth are welcome to see a pediatric dentist at any age.

Just as you take your infants for well-child visits to the pediatrician, early dental visits for children are equally as important. These first visits allow the dentist to provide advice and education to assist you in properly caring for your child’s teeth and preventing cavities. During these early visits, the dentist will perform a knee-to-knee exam of your child’s mouth (also called lap treatment).  Positioning for  the exam this way allows the parent to hold the child for more comfort, and allows for easy visualization of the mouth for both the parent and the dentist.  This pain free experience early on helps to create a more pleasant association with the dental office, even if your child is crying.  Making dental exams a routine experience early on helps children feel more comfortable at the dental office at a younger age.

Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Early loss of primary teeth can increase the likelihood of requiring braces when secondary (adult) teeth start coming in.  Baby teeth that get cavities can cause pain and infection long before they will be coming out on their own (The second baby molars are not normally lost until a child is 12 years old!).  If these cavities are left untreated, the infection can actually spread through the rest of the body potentially leading to life-threatening infections.  Any type of treatment of cavities is never as perfect or ideal as the natural tooth, and many children can have difficulty tolerating dental procedures.  While dentists are trained in treating these dental problems, the best solution is to take care of baby teeth and prevent decay from the beginning.  The goal of early visits to a pediatric dentist is aimed at prevention for these very reasons.

For dental health and overall health, candy and other "junk food" should be considered a treat and not a regular part of your child’s diet. However, some types of candy can be more harmful to teeth. The longer the sugar from the candy sticks to your teeth, the more damage it does. Candy that is extremely sticky, such as taffy or caramel, is particularly bad for teeth. Try to pick candy like chocolate that melts away and does not not linger on the teeth as long.  Avoiding tacky candies is also important to prevent pulling sealants, crowns, or fillings off of teeth as well.  If candy is consumed, try to brush your child’s teeth as soon afterwards as possible to prevent sugar from being on the teeth for as long.