Infant oral exams from our smile specialists are an important part of your child’s health.
We recommend that all children go to the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth or by age 1.
At Smiles 4 Keeps, we are fully accredited by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). You as a parent or guardian can feel confident in our knowledge and experience.
Providing gentle dental care to your infant son or daughter is very important to us.
Important Infant Oral Exam Appointments
- During your child’s first dental appointment, we are able to perform certain preventive services to keep the teeth healthy. We can also speak with you regarding emergency dentistry situations and how to best care for your child’s oral care during these times.
- Infant oral exams are incredibly important to promote a solid foundation for healthy teeth and gums. Routine preventive dentistry services, such as teeth cleanings, decrease the chances of oral diseases and tooth decay (commonly referred as dental caries).
- We will speak with you regarding oral care tips when it comes to teething and your infant’s diet, including breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Our kid’s dentists find it important for parents or guardians to help your child understand the importance of dental visits.
We are more than happy to give you tips and suggestions on doing so.
Going to the dentist regularly, starting from a young age, will help your child feel at ease in this environment. Rest assured, we have several amenities to help your son or daughter feel right at home!
Lap Exams
These little ones are often afraid of new people and experiences and appreciate seeing one of their parents during the visit. To accomplish this, we recommend a lap exam and toothbrush cleaning.
What is a Lap Exam?
A lap exam can be completed in one of two ways. One technique is to have your child sit in your lap facing you with one leg on each side. You will lay your child back onto a soft examination board with a member of the dental team on the other side. In this technique you can see your child’s teeth and they can see you while an exam, cleaning and instruction are performed. The Second technique is to have the parent sit in the dental chair and simply have your child sit in your lap for the exam and cleaning. Children at this age may be anxious about their visit and often require you to help encourage them and at times help them be still.
What is a Toothbrush Cleaning?
A toothbrush cleaning is when your child’s teeth are cleaned by using a traditional toothbrush. Little one’s experience teething, have tender gums, and a limited attention span. By using a traditional toothbrush, we can massage areas of teething and reduce soft tissue irritation that can be caused by a mechanical toothbrush while completing the cleaning within your child’s attention span.
Set Your Child Up for Success
Talk to your child about their first visit, read them books and practice brushing!
We encourage you to talk about the dental visit in a positive manner to calm fears of the unknown. It is a good idea to role play with your child, so they know what to expect on their first visit. Here are some suggestions, reading a book like, Elmo goes to the Dentist, and check out this child friendly video:
Please bring your id, insurance card, and any other relevant information (custody paperwork, notarized letters, medical information etc.) to your appointment! The front desk can scan this information to your child’s chart.