How Often Are Children Supposed to Be Seen by a Dentist?

The American Dental Association recommends being seen by your dentist every 6 months. These 6-month increments are especially important for children. From the time your child’s first tooth erupts through the gum, they should be seeing a dentist. At the very least, it is good to have your child visit the dentist before they turn a year old. 

Build Trust

There are a couple of reasons we like to see your child early. First, we want to build your child’s trust in the dentist. If we can help them get comfortable at an early age, they are more likely to have positive experiences with the dentist in the future. We also like to see kids when everything is going well with their oral health. If they only were to come in every time something is wrong, it won’t reinforce happy memories at the dentist. Our main goal is to help patients learn to enjoy coming to the dentist! 

Protect & Prepare

Obviously, there are more reasons for us to see your child early and often. We want to ensure your children’s teeth are developing correctly. Getting a head start on crooked teeth or issues with their bite can save you time and money in years that follow. We also want to be vigilant about tooth decay. Despite your best efforts as a parent, sometimes underlying issues with baby teeth can still pop up. We are trained to spot these issues and fix them before they get out of hand. Your child’s baby teeth are important because they guide their permanent teeth into place, so teaching healthy habits early can benefit your child greatly! 

If you’re curious about your child’s oral health, schedule an appointment with one of our Idaho Falls Pediatric Dentists or Pocatello Pediatric Dentists today!