Boise Dentist Tips For Planning Your Child’s First Visit

It’s never too early to start your child on the path of a happy, healthy smile. At Summit Dental Group, our skilled team of dental professionals are always excited to welcome new patients to visit their Boise dentist.

When To Come

At Summit Dental, we recommend scheduling your child’s first dental appointment between the ages of 18 – 24 months. Even if there is only a single baby tooth visible, there are plenty of things their Boise dentist can do to set your child on the path to great oral health.

Some of the benefits of early dental care include:

• Teaching you and your child the proper ways to care for their teeth.
• Discussing your child’s dental developmental milestones.
• Going over the importance of good oral hygiene.

If your child has developed a cavity, we can take care of that too. However, their first visit is typically about developing healthy habits that will make future visits to our office more enjoyable.

Preparing For A Visit

First and foremost, we advise parents to exhibit a positive attitude about their child visiting their Boise dentist. Children pick up on emotions easily, and by staying positive, they will look forward to their dental visits in the future.

A first visit usually involves talking to your child, looking in his or her mouth, and making oral health assessments. We believe in being honest with your child so they know what to expect so there is no reason to be afraid.

On the day of their first visit, it’s usually a good idea to bring a comforting toy or blanket. If possible, try to leave other children at home so you can concentrate on one child at a time. Additionally, we suggest filling out any new patient forms in advance to help save you time and effort on the day of your visit.

During The Appointment

When you and your child are comfortably seated in our office, we will take the time to talk with each of you and explain what we will be doing. Our friendly, helpful staff will help your child get to know our Boise office by:

• Counting their teeth.
• Teaching them about our dental instruments.

Next, we will perform a gentle examination of your child’s teeth. Their Boise dentist will look for any early signs of dental problems such as cavities and assess the risk that your child may develop them in the future. This assessment helps us to prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay without any drilling.

Once their check-up is complete, we will talk with you about various ways to maintain your child’s oral health. Some of these include:

• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Utilizing fluoride treatments
• Getting dental sealants
• Brushing and flossing techniques

Start The Journey Today

Healthy habits are developed early in life. That’s why it’s essential to start good dental care at a young age. When it’s time to schedule your child’s first visit to their Boise dentist, don’t hesitate to contact our Treasure Valley office by filling out our online form or give us a call at (208) 314-2275 today.