The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says that children should have their first dental appointment before they’re 1 year old, or within 6 months of their first tooth erupting. The bad news is that most children don’t see the dentist until much later, when they’re 2.5 years old, on average.
We get it. When your baby is born, there’s a lot of other things on your mind than the dentist. But, your child’s dental health is important very early in their life. The care they receive now will affect them for the rest of their life.
What’s So Important About Baby Teeth?
Baby teeth are temporary, so they aren’t important, right? Actually, that’s a common misconception. Your child’s baby teeth are important in several areas of their health, including:
- Ensuring that when adult teeth grow in, they’re properly aligned.
- Developing proper chewing, which will aid in their nutrition.
- Improving speech development.
- Saving space for when adult teeth grow in.
Choosing a Dentist
Your child’s dental health care is important, but so are so many other things! When you choose a dentist, it’s a good idea to find one that makes things easy and saves you time.
Finding a dentist that offers block scheduling and an in-house orthodontist can make things much easier.
In-House Orthodontist: Another important part of your child’s dental health is orthodontic care. By the time they’re 7 years old, experts recommend they have their first orthodontic appointment. If the office where they receive their oral care also has an in-house orthodontist, that eliminates a step.
Block Scheduling: Dental health is an important component for children’s health, but it’s also important for you and the rest of the family! If your family dentist offers block scheduling, you can make 1 appointment to take care of the whole family. That will save you time.
At Hampden Dental Group, we offer both block scheduling and in-house orthodontics. You can get started by scheduling your appointment online.