When should your child first see a dentist? Dental experts at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) say the ideal time is six months after the first tooth erupts. This should be before your child’s first birthday.

Prepare Your Child
If possible, schedule morning appointments, when young children are alert and fresh. Prepare your child for the visit by giving him or her a general idea of what to expect. Explain why it is important to go to the dentist. Build excitement and understanding.

Before You Go
To prepare for your child’s first visit , make a list of questions or concerns and discuss them with the dentist before the exam. Remember that your perceptions about dental visits can be quite different from your child's. If you have dental anxieties, be careful not to relate those to your child. Provide moral support and avoid relaying anxiety to your child by staying calm while in the dental exam room.

What Happens During the Visit?
Most initial office visits are to help acquaint the child with the dentist. The visit will likely include the following, depending on the child's age:
  • An exam of your child's teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral tissues
  • If indicated, a gentle cleaning and polishing
  • X-rays
  • A demonstration on proper at-home teeth cleaning
  • Assessment of fluoride needs

Ready to set up your child’s first dentist visit? Use our find a dentist search tool and sort by pediatric dentists.