Perhaps no visit to the dentist is more important than your child’s very first one. Our three caring doctors and the entire team at our Highlands Ranch, CO dentist office love working with kids and building relationships with them that may last a lifetime. Bring us your kids for their first dental visit in Colorado.
Dr. Haynes on a Child's First Dental Visit in Colorado
Read Transcript Well, for children's dentistry, we recommend kids being seen at one year of age. Technically, we recommend at six months being seen, but you can be seen by ... and that's the eruption of the first tooth. You can either be seen by your pediatrician or a dental care provider, just to make sure that parents are understanding what to do and what not to do. As long as you've had that first six-month visit with someone, we recommend starting at the dental office at one year of age. We call it a happy visit. Most one-year-olds, that means what we're able to do is just have them smile, make sure that the teeth are erupting properly, that development looks good, we're not seeing any issues with home care where maybe there's areas that you're missing, do some guidance and counseling on brushing techniques and diet techniques and just things like that to make sure that your child avoids dental problems. That's typically the majority of that first visit. Sometimes we're able to polish your child's teeth, and that's great, but we won't push it because we want to create that positive dental experience, so when they come in next time, they're excited. They get their prize and everything. Then we can ease in some of those other things as they get older.
To schedule your child’s first dental visit in Colorado, call Highlands Ranch Smiles at 720-644-8186.
When to Bring Your Baby for the First Dentist Visit
So when should you bring your baby to see us for the first time? The American Dental Association suggests bringing the baby to the dentist as soon as they get their first tooth, and we agree! For most children, this will be before their first birthday.
We call these “happy visits,” because our focus is on keeping your baby happy. The first few visits will be as much about you as them! We’ll take all the time you need to discuss teething, cleaning your baby’s teeth, and any other questions you have.
As more teeth come in, we’ll make sure your child’s teeth and mouth are healthy and their bite looks good. And we’ll begin cleaning and polishing their teeth. It’s important to care for primary teeth to help prevent dental complications that can result from early cavities and other issues.
Tips on Bringing Baby to the Dentist
Because our team has seen so many youngsters in our care rooms, we’ve got some suggestions on ensuring visits with your youngest family members go well. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Schedule your visit at a time of day when your child is normally well-rested. We make it easy by offering extended hours at our Highlands Ranch, CO dentist office.
- Leave other children at home, if possible.
- Bring a spouse, other family members, or friend to help out, so you can more fully focus on your discussions with our doctors.
- Write down in advance any questions you’d like to ask so you won’t forget.
We’d be honored to help you mark the milestone of your child’s first dental visit in Colorado! Call 720-644-8186 to book a visit to Highlands Ranch Smiles.
Highlands Ranch Smiles is home to trusted Highland Ranch, CO dentists. Dr. Michelle Haynes, DMD received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Courtney McKeever, DMD received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine at University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and a member of the Colorado Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Dr. Amanda McCabe, DMD graduated with a Bachelor of Science with distinction from Penn State University and then earned her dental school degree from Temple University.