At What Age Can a Children’s Oral Health Exam be Performed?

At one point, it was believed that pediatric dentistry exams should wait until a child was at least 3 years old. By this age, all of a child's baby teeth should have already come in, and the conventional wisdom was that children did not have the maturity to cooperate with a dental exam until they were older toddlers.

On the other hand, tooth decay is an extremely common chronic disease occurring in early childhood. Children are at risk for caries, another name for tooth decay, as soon as the baby teeth start emerging, typically around the age of 6 months. Therefore, it is now recommended that a child's first dental exam happen no later than their first birthday, and preferably as soon as possible after the first tooth erupts.

How does a pediatric dentistry exam take place?

Some people are mystified as to how a dentist can perform a dental examination on a small child who may not even be old enough to sit up in a chair alone. Pediatric dentists have had to modify the techniques they use for examinations of very young children to involve assistance from the child's caregiver. Depending on the child's age, the dentist may use either the knee-to-knee approach or the on-the-stool approach.

Knee-to-knee approach

When the patient is between 6 and 18 months old, they sit on the caregiver's lap in the dentist's office, facing the caregiver. The dentist sits knee to knee with the caregiver. The caregiver then leans the child back so that their head is in the dentist's lap, allowing the dentist to carry out the examination this way.

On-the-stool approach

A child over the age of 18 months may be able to sit up on their own but may still have apprehensions about the dental examination and require the reassurance of a caregiver. For children between 18 and 24 months of age, the dentist may use an on-the-stool approach. The caregiver sits on a chair, and the child sits on a stool in front of them, facing the dentist. This allows the caregiver to hold the child in place, providing any restraint and offering any reassurance they deem necessary.

What else happens during a pediatric dentistry visit?

Regardless of the child's age and the approach taken, an exam by a pediatric dentist is typically very short, perhaps no longer than five minutes. During this time, the dentist determines whether any tooth decay is already present. If not, the dentist can counsel the caregiver on caries prevention.

The rest of the visit is absorbed in obtaining the child's dental and medical history. This allows the dentist to assess the child's risk for caries and other dental problems and offer specific counseling on prevention. In particular, the dentist gives instructions to the caregiver on maintaining the child's dental hygiene, as children of this age are too young to brush and floss effectively by themselves.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond, TX

Conclusion

As soon as the baby's teeth start erupting, a child is at risk for dental caries. Therefore, it is now recommended that a child have the initial pediatric dental exam between the ages of 6 months and 1 year, whenever the first tooth appears.

Request an appointment or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at 832-579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

Recent Posts

Visit A Pediatric Dentistry Office For A Tongue Or Lip Bite

Visiting a pediatric dentistry office with your child ensures his or her future relationship with oral hygiene and dentists, in general. Whenever your child suffers from oral injuries, consider making an appointment with your pediatric dentist to uncover any underlying problems. For instance, injuries to the tongue and teeth could indicate a deeper jaw or…

Why A Pediatric Dentistry Office Would Recommend Fluoridated Water

Fluoridated water is part of pediatric dentistry. It is a convenient and easy way to strengthen and protect teeth at an early age. Many areas have fluoridated water, which is a definite advantage. If you want to know why a dentist will likely recommend fluoridated water, here are the details.Studies show that almost all sources…

Pediatric Dentistry: How Nutrition Is Important For A Child’s Oral Health

Nutrition is an important part of pediatric dentistry. Having balanced amounts of vitamins and minerals can strengthen and protect the teeth. Proper nutrients also fuel dental function. If you want to know how important nutrition is for your child’s oral health, here are the details from a pediatric dentistry professional.Children are still developing. They need…

Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental

Share
Published by
Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental

Recent Posts

How to Care for Children’s Braces: Tips for Parents

Regular visits to the pediatric dentist are the cornerstone of children’s braces treatment.

2 days ago

How a Kid-Friendly Dentist Educates Your Child About Oral Hygiene

A kid-friendly dentist educates children on how to improve their oral hygiene at home. These…

6 days ago

Your First Appointment With a Kid Friendly Dentist

A child's first appointment with a kid-friendly dentist may involve a friendly chat allowing the…

1 week ago

How a Kid Friendly Dentist Helps to Prevent Dental Issues

If you want to help your children maintain excellent oral health, find a kid-friendly dentist…

2 weeks ago

How To Find a Kid Friendly Dentist

Finding a reputable kid-friendly dentist is important. Parents can ensure they find the right dentist…

2 weeks ago

How a Kid-Friendly Dentist Deals With Tooth Decay

A kid-friendly dentist can treat tooth decay in children and prevent more severe issues from…

3 weeks ago