Parents in Ahwatukee ask me two questions about toddlers: when should the first dental visit be, and what on earth do you do with a one-year-old in a dental chair? Both have simple answers. Here is how we handle first visits at Kokopelli Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, and how you can set your child up for a good one.
When to come: by the first birthday
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by age one, or within six months of the first tooth coming in, whichever is sooner. That surprises a lot of parents. Most of us grew up going to the dentist for the first time at three or four.
The reason for the early visit is not to fix anything. It is to prevent things. Cavities in toddlers are common, they progress quickly in baby teeth, and they are almost entirely preventable with a few habits that are much easier to start at one than to change at three. The first visit is mostly a conversation with you, plus a quick look at your child.
What actually happens
The first visit is short and gentle, and it looks nothing like an adult appointment.
For a very young child, I usually do a knee-to-knee exam. You sit facing me, your child sits on your lap facing you, and then leans back so their head rests in my lap. They can see you the whole time. I count the teeth, look at the gums and the roof of the mouth, check how the teeth are coming in, and look for early signs of decay, which show up as white or brown spots near the gumline.
If your child tolerates it, we gently clean the teeth with a small brush and apply fluoride varnish, which paints on in seconds and helps harden the enamel. If your child is not having it, we do not force it. A screaming first visit is worse than a shorter one.
We do not take X-rays at this age unless there is a specific reason to. There is nothing to see between the teeth yet.
Then we talk. This is the most useful part.
What we will talk about
Bottles and sippy cups. Milk and juice sitting on the teeth at night is the single biggest cause of toddler cavities. If your child still falls asleep with a bottle, we will talk about how to transition, and about water in the sippy cup between meals.
Brushing. As soon as the first tooth appears, brush twice a day with a soft toddler brush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. At age three, a pea-sized amount. You do the brushing. Toddlers do not have the coordination, and they will not for years.
Pacifiers and thumbs. Both are normal at one. We will talk about when and how to phase them out so they do not affect the bite.
Teething, tooth eruption order, and what is normal. Every child is different, and I will tell you what to expect over the next year.
How to prepare your child
Keep it positive and low-key. Do not say "it will not hurt," because that introduces the idea that it might. Say we are going to count your teeth.
Come at a good time of day. A rested, fed toddler is a cooperative toddler. Early morning slots work well for most families, and our Ahwatukee office opens at 7 AM.
Play dentist at home. Let your child brush a stuffed animal's teeth, then let them look in your mouth, then you look in theirs. It makes the real thing familiar.
Bring a comfort item and a change of clothes. Drool happens.
Come yourself first if you are anxious about the dentist. Kids read their parents. If you are relaxed, they usually are too.
After the first visit
We will suggest when to come back, usually every six months, so your child grows up thinking of the dentist as routine. By age two or three, most kids are sitting in the chair on their own, and by school age they are old hands. Our pediatric dentistry page covers what we do at each stage, from sealants on new molars to orthodontic screening around age seven.
Frequently asked questions
Does a one-year-old really need a dentist?
Yes, for prevention and for you. The visit sets habits that prevent cavities and lets us catch problems while they are tiny. It is a lot easier than treating a two-year-old with a toothache.
Do you see toddlers at the Ahwatukee office, or do I need a pediatric specialist?
We see children from their first tooth at our Ahwatukee office, and most kids do fine in a family practice where their parents are also patients. If a child needs care that is better handled by a pediatric specialist, I will tell you and refer you.
What if my toddler cries the whole time?
That is a normal first visit. We do what we can, we keep it short, and we try again at the next visit. It gets better.
Does insurance cover a toddler's visit?
Many dental plans cover children's preventive visits at little or no cost. We check your benefits before the visit and tell you what to expect.
Next step
Call Kokopelli Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Ahwatukee at (480) 283-0733 to book your toddler's first visit, or request an appointment online. We are at 1327 E Chandler Blvd, Suite 105, Phoenix, AZ 85048, open Tuesday through Friday from 7 AM and select Saturdays.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
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