What Age Should Kids Start Going to the Dentist?

Creating a positive association with the dentist is the best way to establish a lifetime of oral hygiene care for your kids. But what’s the best age to start this lifetime practice, and how young is too young?

“When should you first take your child to the dentist?” is one of the most common questions parents ask us here at Dr. Simon Pong, and the answer might surprise you!

Once your child’s first teeth appear – from around 6 months onward – is the best time to book an appointment with your dentist, and there are a number of good reasons for doing so.

When To See A Pediatric Dentist

At such a young age your child’s trip is unlikely to involve much more than your dentist taking a quick look to check for healthy tooth development.

No dramas, no fuss, just a fun sticker and a happy memory for your child! 

So your child gets positive exposure to what could otherwise be a strange and uncomfortable experience.

Our friendly team at Dr. Simon Pong regularly welcomes toddlers and even babies for their first dental appointment, and see first hand the positive effects when those same kids come happily running in for follow-up visits. 

Other benefits to introducing your kids to the dentist as early as possible include:

• Learning the skill of “opening wide”, which is useful practice for future trips.
• Becoming familiar with the dentist from a young age decreases the chances of dental anxiety in the future.
• Discovery of early onset tooth decay makes any treatment needed much easier.
• Any other orthodontic problems – such as crooked or missing teeth – are also more easily treated when caught as early as possible.
• Your child will view dentist appointments as a normal part of life and will regard them as second nature as they get older.
• A happy and stress free dentist appointment for your toddler is a huge developmental confidence boost for them.
• Kids listen when dentists encourage them to care for their teeth, which makes your life easier!

Book A Dental Appointment For Your Toddler

Prevention is always better than treatment.

By taking an active role in your child’s dental care with regular visits to the dentist you safeguard against unnecessary stress brought on by dental work further down the line. 

If your child’s very first visit to the dentist is to treat tooth decay, you create trauma and a negative association that’s hard to undo. 

The opportunity to present the experience as “fun” goes, and instead you’re left with a child who understandably fears going to the dentist.

A dental appointment for your toddler may seem like overkill but is the best preventative way to avoid lasting trauma associated with oral treatment . 

How Often Should Kids Go to the Dentist?

Every 6 months is how often you should go to the dentist, and exactly the same applies to children. 

Not only do regular visits decrease the chance of dental work needing to be carried out, but they also allow your dentist to monitor signs of fluoride deficiency.

As always, early diagnosis makes treatment easier, and fluoride deficiency has far less negative impact and is easier to treat when caught early on.  

Also, by going to the dentist regularly, you are modelling a behaviour that sets your child up for a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene.

It’s never too early to start your kids on the path to a happy ongoing relationship between them and their dentist!

Create a positive association with the dentist for your kids as early as possible. At Simon Pong we offer positive and fun experiences for our young patients. Find out more about our child-friendly dentistry, and book a consultation today!