A Lifetime Of Smiles Starts With The Best First Step
Provide your children with a strong foundation for developing excellent oral hygiene habits, and track their progress as they nurture their beautiful smiles. We recognize the unique challenges and rewards of family care, and children deserve special attention. A healthy smile is a crucial aspect of childhood, so let’s begin their journey on the correct path with personalized guidance tailored to their needs.
Getting Ready For Your First Appointment
Don’t hesitate to engage in a conversation with your child about the upcoming dentist appointment. The primary goal of their first visit is to create a relaxed and enjoyable experience while establishing a positive rapport with the dentist. It’s natural for individuals to feel a bit anxious when they are unsure about what to expect. Here’s a preview of what your child can anticipate during their initial appointment:
Talk and Listen
We will have a conversation with both you and your child, providing clear explanations of our procedures and their purposes. We will also introduce your child to some of the tools we use. Our communication is child-friendly, and we make sure to clarify any unfamiliar terms, ensuring that your child feels as comfortable and confident as possible. See, we’re here to make the experience less intimidating!
Gently Examine
We will conduct a gentle examination of your child’s gums, tongue, teeth, and overall oral health. This examination will help us identify any areas of concern or challenging spots that may require additional care at home. We will offer personalized guidance and take note of these specific areas to provide extra attention during the next appointment.
Learning
We may request your child to demonstrate their tooth-brushing technique and then offer them gentle guidance on how to enhance their home brushing routine. We’re more than happy to address any questions that you or your child may have regarding dental health.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children typically begin cutting their first teeth at approximately 6 months of age. It is advisable for children to have their first dental visit by the age of 1 or within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth. If you suspect any issues or if your child is experiencing discomfort or pain, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible. It’s never too late for a child to have their initial dental check-up.
Baby teeth are equally significant as adult teeth, and it’s crucial for parents to recognize their importance. Beyond just preserving space for permanent teeth, baby teeth play a significant role in shaping a child’s facial appearance, their smile, and their overall confidence. Children who develop the habit of smiling and feeling self-assured during their early years tend to carry these positive traits into adulthood. Dental discomfort, even if it’s mild and becomes normalized by children, can have lasting adverse effects on their eating patterns, including their chewing ability, food preferences, and overall food intake.
The duration of the appointment will vary based on the child’s requirements and their level of cooperation during the examination. However, as a general guideline, appointments usually last around one hour.
Following the initial appointment, it is advisable for your child to maintain regular dental visits at the same frequency as your own. We typically recommend checkups and cleanings every six months, unless we specify otherwise. However, if your child experiences any tooth or jaw discomfort, you observe them frequently rubbing or nursing their jaw, or they start avoiding hard or cold foods, we encourage you to schedule an appointment sooner to address these concerns.
Your oral health encompasses more than just your teeth; it involves a complex system comprising your teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks, glands, ligaments, joints, bones, and more. When any element of this oral system is affected, it can have a cascading impact on your entire mouth. Swollen, itchy, sore, or bleeding gums can serve as early indicators of potentially more significant underlying issues.
What Our Patients Are Saying
- Video testimonials
- Google reviews
High Praise for Alpine View Dental
Patient Education Comes First at Alpine View Dental!
Always The Best Experience
