Dr. Church prefers to begin dental exams around 8-10 months old. After this, a routine dental exam should take place once every 6 months for kids, teenagers and adults. At each visit, Dr. Church completes a thorough exam to be sure that proper growth and development of all oral structures is taking place. He also screens for oral cancer, potential orthodontic needs, gum disease, and for cavities or other issues with the teeth.
Dr. Church likes to screen early and often so he can catch issues while they are just beginning. This allows him more options of how to address it whether it is to monitor carefully, give specific home care instructions, and/or treat conservatively if needed. When a problem becomes large there are usually less options and urgent treatment is often needed.
When should I bring my child in to see the dentist for the first time?
Dr. Church likes to see kids for their first dental visit around the time they begin getting their first teeth (Typically 6-12 months old). This allows Dr. Church to check for any oral abnormalities and get ahead of any potential issues. This also helps the child get used to the sights and sounds of a dental office early on so it can be normalized as early as possible. If parents are concerned about anything in their child’s mouth prior to 6 months, Dr. Church would be happy to see them sooner.
I am unsure if my infant has a lip or a tongue tie. Would it be too soon to bring them in soon after birth?
Not at all! Dr. Church frequently examines infants for oral structure concerns including lip and tongue ties. This is especially important if the child is having a tough time breast or bottle feeding. He can then discuss the need for a frenectomy to relieve the tie if applicable.