Baby’s First Dental Exam
“Bracing” yourself for baby’s first dental exam? Come prepared and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised!
The AAP recommends scheduling baby’s first dental exam between the appearance of their first tooth and one year of age. Of course, your pediatrician’s recommendation may differ, so be sure to check first!
When selecting a dentist for your LO, you should first decide on a general or pediatric dentist. We decided a pediatric dentist would be optimal for our tot, since he can be a handful even under normal conditions. As it turns out, many pediatric dentists choose to be out-of-network with insurance companies. This doesn’t necessarily mean your insurance won’t cover any of the costs, or that your dentist won’t file with the insurance company. However, it may mean you are left footing some of the bill yourself. If your priority is to find an in-network dentist for your LO, check with your insurance provider.
Before scheduling baby’s appointment, make a list of questions for the dentist. This list should get you started!
Do you have any advice on getting baby to cooperate during toothbrush time?
How long should I spend brushing LO’s teeth? How many times a day should I brush them?
Should LO be in charge of the toothbrush, or should I be in control?
What kind of toothbrush and toothpaste are best for baby?
How do you feel about bottles and sippy cups?
Is it okay for baby to suck a pacifier or thumb?
How can I best treat teething symptoms?
Is fluoride safe for my LO?
How important is it to really clean baby’s teeth during brushing, as opposed to simply creating a consistent brushing routine for baby?
How can I modify baby’s diet to optimize dental health?
These questions are not just to learn more about baby’s dental hygiene. They are to learn more about the dentist and staff. You can get a good feel for a dentist’s philosophy and bedside manner with these types of questions. If they are impatient or you don’t agree with most of their answers, or if you simply don’t feel comfortable with the dentist or staff, look for another practice! If you aren’t comfortable, baby is sure to pick up on your vibe.
Try to schedule the exam for a time when baby is not expected to be tired or fussy. Once the exam has started, the dentist will probably sit knee to knee with you while you hold LO. You will probably lean baby back so the dentist can look in baby’s mouth (upside down). Pro tip: Don’t wear anything low cut, lest baby clings to your neckline when being leaned back. *wink*
Don’t expect any real cleaning at the first exam. The dentist will most likely just take a quick peek inside baby’s mouth. If those pearly whites are looking good, an actual cleaning appointment may not be recommended until baby is at least 3 years old, or when you think baby would be reasonably calm and cooperative for it.
Best of luck at baby’s first appointment!
Peace and love,
TheFreethinkingMama
P.S. Looking for advice on the questions listed above, or any other baby tooth related questions? Feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer based on our experiences!