PEDİATRİC DENTİSTRY

When should the first dental visit be?

The first dental examination should be done within 6 months after your child's first milk teeth erupt. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommend that the first dental examination be done between 6 months and 1 year of age . In addition to evaluating the structure of your child's teeth at the first dental examination, your doctor will also give you information about how to maintain oral hygiene and what to pay attention to in nutrition.

Starting routine check-ups in children without any cavities or pain will not only help your child get used to the dentist, but also prevent problems before they begin, with only preventive measures. The fact that children have pain when they first come to the dentist may cause them to be more stressed during the treatment.

In children aged 0-3 in Brazil; It has been reported that 27% of children aged 13-24 months and 50% of children aged 25-36 months have caries. 1 In our country, it has been reported that the presence of caries in children aged 5 years is around 69.8%. 2 These rates show that caries starts at a very young age and they emphasize the importance of having dental check-ups from an early age.

Should I prepare my child before the examination?

Before taking your child for a dental check-up, you should explain the procedures and be positive.It will help your child to have an appointment more comfortably. Deceiving your child that nothing will be done to your appointments for the procedure will also make it difficult for him to accept the treatment. Do not use expressions such as it will not hurt your child at all, it may hurt a little, the needle will not be given, then the tooth will be pulled. Because such statements will cause your child to be more afraid. In any case, your pediatric dentist will explain to your child what to do before the procedure in a way that he or she will like. You can tell your child that the dentist appointment will be a lot of fun, that the teeth will be looked at with a tiny mirror, that their teeth should be checked for good health, that they will learn how to brush their teeth.