First Dental Visit – One By One

When should a child first see the dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Dental Association all recommend that the first dental visit occurs when the first tooth erupts, or age of one.  There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the first dental visit by the age of one will reduce future related dental costs.  In a 2004 publication in the American Academy of Pediatrics it was shown that a higher cost was associated with a later dental visit.

“The average dentally related cost per child during the 5 years of the study was $447 for those who used dental services; however, for children who had their first preventive visit before age 1, the average cost per child was $263.”

A significant cost savings was evident in the study.  The study also highlights the advantage to establishing a dental home.  The dental home is a place that can provide comprehensive oral care including acute and preventative services.  Establishing a dental home allows for individualized care based on your child or dependents needs.  It allows our office to provide information on the needs your child or dependent will have in the future and a plan for dental trauma.  We want your child to be comfortable visiting our office and be familiar with our staff.  We want to be your child’s dental home in Muscatine.

We believe in prevention, and that is why we are offering a complementary Infant Oral Evaluation (Children Under 3, D0145) from our opening in July through the end of September.  We are proud to establish our practice in Muscatine and look forward to providing families with a lifetime of smiles.

Pediatrics. 2004 Oct;114(4):e418-23.
Early preventive dental visits: effects on subsequent utilization and costs.
Savage MF1, Lee JY, Kotch JB, Vann WF Jr.