First Dental Visit Jitters

by Dr. Garret Guthrie, DDS

Our dental office has been open for almost four months now! In this short time frame, we have received several questions from parents asking about their child’s first dental visit. Here are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

When should the first visit occur?

Believe it or not, a child should have his or her first dental visit at one-year-old or when the first tooth erupts. Don’t worry, you generally do not have to be concerned about cavities at this first visit!

This appointment is about introducing your child to the dental setting and establishing a positive routine at the dentist. Beginning visits at an early age will help children identify the dentist as a nonthreatening setting allowing for easy and fun visits as they get older.

What happens at the first visit?

A dental visit for children under the age of three is usually fairly short with the main focus on establishing trust. Oftentimes, a

child’s first dental visit consists of a “knee-lap exam”.

For this exam, the parent or guardian sits in a chair holding the child facing the parent. The dentist sits behind the child knee-to-knee with the parent. The parent then lays the child back on the dentist’s lap allowing a perfect view of the baby teeth.

What if my child won’t cooperate?

That’s okay! Sometimes kiddos are too nervous to let the dentist look at their teeth. The goal of the first visit is to make the child comfortable at the dentist’s office so if it does not go exactly as planned, it is still a worthwhile appointment!

Please give our office a call if you have any questions regarding your child’s teeth or would like to schedule the first visit to the dentist!

Garret Guthrie is dentist and owner at Guthrie Family Dental in Grain Valley. He can be reached at Guthriefamilydental@gmail.com. For more information, visit Guthriefamilydental.com or call (816) 443-5479.