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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, all infants, children, adolescents and persons with special health care needs should have a dental home after the first tooth comes in and no later than one year old. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future. The most important reason is to begin a thorough prevention program. Dental problems can begin early. A big concern is Early Childhood Caries (formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries). Once a child’s diet includes anything besides breast-milk, erupted teeth are at risk for decay. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance is of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily and smile with confidence. Find out more information here.

During the first-tooth visit, you can expect Dr. Stoffel and his professional staff to check for proper oral and facial development to determine whether teeth are growing in properly and to detect early tooth decay. They will walk parents through a home dental care program for their child. Early preventive care also is a sound health and economic investment. Some parents avoid taking children to the dentist to save money, yet studies show that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age one are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday. 

 

 Without preventive care, the impact of tooth decay on child development can be striking. Numerous studies have linked childhood cavities with lower than ideal body weight. Even more disturbing is evidence that the effects of poor oral health may be felt for a lifetime: Emerging research suggests that improper oral hygiene may increase a child’s risk of eventually having low-birth-weight babies, developing heart disease or suffering a stroke as an adult.

 

 Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits. Contact us now!