There are many reasons to start dental visits early, but how early is the question? One important reason is to prevent future fears of the dentist's chair. Being afraid of going to the dentist is a fairly common occurrence among adults, sometimes bordering on an actual phobia. Fear can turn a routine visit into an absolute nightmare, making it very hard to maintain good dental health. If possible, a baby should accompany mom and dad to their dental check ups. Watching the parents allow the dentist to look inside their mouths on a regular basis will help baby to think of it as a normal thing. He or she will be much more likely to feel comfortable opening his or her mouth for a check up after months of observing.
Opinions vary about exactly when a child needs to see the dentist for the first time. Around one year is the earliest that is usually recommended, with three or four years old being the latest. It has a lot to do with the maturity of the child and his or her ability to cooperate.
Starting dental visits early is crucial to ensuring good dental health for your child. Twenty percent of children get at least one cavity by the time they are five years old. Cavities can cause early loss of baby teeth, which can result in spacing problems with other teeth, speech issues and trouble chewing food properly. Also, cavities hurt - something nobody wants for their child.
Some children have a situation where the enamel doesn't develop on their baby teeth as they form, causing almost immediate cavities to develop. In this case, obviously, they would need to see a dentist earlier than usual as fillings will be necessary.
Choosing the right dentist for your child is very important as his early experience will affect his reaction to dentists for the rest of his or her life. It's not necessary that they specialize in pediatric dentistry, just that they have an understanding of how children think and can relate to them in such a way that puts them at ease. The same criteria applies to the rest of the staff that he or she will come in contact with during visits. There should be a kid friendly atmosphere throughout the office, making the whole experience of being there a pleasant one.
Opinions vary about exactly when a child needs to see the dentist for the first time. Around one year is the earliest that is usually recommended, with three or four years old being the latest. It has a lot to do with the maturity of the child and his or her ability to cooperate.
Starting dental visits early is crucial to ensuring good dental health for your child. Twenty percent of children get at least one cavity by the time they are five years old. Cavities can cause early loss of baby teeth, which can result in spacing problems with other teeth, speech issues and trouble chewing food properly. Also, cavities hurt - something nobody wants for their child.
Some children have a situation where the enamel doesn't develop on their baby teeth as they form, causing almost immediate cavities to develop. In this case, obviously, they would need to see a dentist earlier than usual as fillings will be necessary.
Choosing the right dentist for your child is very important as his early experience will affect his reaction to dentists for the rest of his or her life. It's not necessary that they specialize in pediatric dentistry, just that they have an understanding of how children think and can relate to them in such a way that puts them at ease. The same criteria applies to the rest of the staff that he or she will come in contact with during visits. There should be a kid friendly atmosphere throughout the office, making the whole experience of being there a pleasant one.
At Classen Family Dentistry in Oklahoma City, Dr. Tim Kirby and his staff make the dentist office as comfortable as possible for children. Dr. Kirby is not a pediatric dentist, but welcomes them any day the office is open. Parents are encouraged to bring their little ones along for a visit. You can trust Dr. Kirby to be patient and caring with your children.
For a superb dentist in Oklahoma City, go online to http://classenfamilydentistry.com/ and learn more about Dr. Kirby and his practice.
Finding a family dentist you are comfortable with can be difficult. Generally we have several questions when it comes to our oral care, and being confident in the answers we are given is an important part of our care. There are several things you may want to ask before you obtain a permanent dentist for your services.
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