At what age should your child see a dentist?

Dental authorities recommend taking a child to the dental office by age one or as soon as their teeth start to come in.

Here at Cool Dental in the Lethbridge area, we take a child’s first visit to our office as an opportunity to build their trust. We don’t do treatments right away. Instead, we get to know our young patients first and even play with them.

If you’re a parent or guardian, Dr. Lachman and the rest of our team can share information with you on how to care for your child’s teeth properly, along with potential dental issues that we need to be on the lookout for, such as baby bottle decay.

Is it necessary to get baby teeth checked?

We get this question all the time. If baby teeth are to be replaced by adult teeth eventually, is it still necessary to care for them? The answer is yes.

Primary teeth are crucial in helping children achieve lifelong good oral health. Baby teeth should, as much as possible, stay in place for many reasons, and here are some of them:

• Hold space for adult teeth
• Help children chew their food properly
• Aid in speech development
• Avoid tooth alignment issues
• Promote a healthy, confident smile

When you bring your child to the dental office, we show you how to brush their teeth properly and share techniques to help them develop good oral hygiene habits.

What happens during the first dental visit?

During the first dental visit, we help your child feel at ease at the dental office.

Depending on how they respond, we may take a look at their mouth and examine their teeth, gums, jaw, and bite. If your child allows it and if necessary, we may also clean their teeth.

We can show them the tools that we’re using in the office, explain what they’re for, and even give them a ride at the dental chair. If we don’t get anything done on the first visit, that’s okay too.

Our goal is to earn your child’s trust, so they’d be thrilled to come see us again.

Preparing for your child’s dental visit

• Start soon. The sooner you can introduce your child to dental care, the earlier we can help them establish good oral hygiene habits.

• Take the first step from home. Not all children like getting their mouth checked. To help your child get used to it, clean their mouth regularly, even before their teeth erupt. Use a clean washcloth to gently wipe their gums and tongue.

• Do a mini orientation. Set your child’s expectations. Talk to them about what they can expect to see and experience at the dental office. Here at Princess Dental, we have an actual fire truck at the reception area that children can explore.

• Schedule it first thing. Book your child’s appointment in the morning while they’re still in a good mood. Our friendly receptionists are happy to help you set up a schedule.

• Always keep it positive. Avoid associating dental care with negative stories. Be positive about going to the dental office and meeting the dental team.

• Prepare yourself too. Prepare a questionnaire so you won’t forget anything. If you’re dealing with dental anxieties yourself, speak with your dental team about it. Dental fears are common, and we’re here to help you stay calm. The last thing any parent or guardian would want is to pass along their anxieties to children. We hear you and we’re with you on this journey.

Children’s Dentistry in the Lethbridge Area

If you’re looking for a new dentist in the Lethbridge area for your children or entire family, we invite you to our practice.

Dr. Karstan Lachman and the rest of our team love working with children, and we do our best to maintain a warm and caring environment.

We hear patients say that our dental team is the friendliest they’ve met, but we’d love for you to be the judge of it.

Call us today at (403) 382-2273 to book your child’s first dental visit. We look forward to meeting you.