Routine dental visits should be before the age of three years and earlier if you have any concerns about your child’s teeth. Some dentists like to see babies as early as one year of age to make sure that parents are well informed on preventive measures. If you are pregnant or have a young baby ask your dentist on one of your own regular visits when s/he would like to first see your baby.

Take your child with you when you, or a friend, visit the dentist. Children like to model the adult behavior, so will often copy others. Dental personnel want to encourage young children and will be helpful in giving them positive experiences.

quot;First visit by first birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, usually between 6 and 12 months of age, certainly no later than his/her first birthday.

You should talk about the upcoming visit in a positive, matter-of-fact way. A visit to the dentist can be a pleasant adventure for your child. Make the dental visit an enjoyable outing. Don't let the child know of your own anxiety or fears of dentistry if you have any. Don't use a dental visit as punishment or discuss the visit in terms of pain or other negative images. For example, don't say, "This won't hurt," or "The dentist won't hurt you.

We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first hair-cut or trip to the shoe store. This will not be the frightening experience you may remember from your youth. Children are keen and can see if you are nervous or display anxiety. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive by explaining what we do. Your child’s dentist should be an important and fun adventure.

We recommend that you bring your child in for their first full dental visit around the age of three and a half. To help reduce the chances of anxiety, we encourage you to bring your children in before that visit so that we can show them how going to the dentist can be a fun, interesting experience. Of course, if you have any dental concerns about your child, you are welcome to bring them in sooner.

The current recommendation by the Canadian Dental Association and the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is that "THE FIRST DENTAL VISIT SHOULD OCCUR BERFORE THE CHILDS FIRST BIRTHDAY".

Ideally, a child should visit the dentist before his third birthday. According to the American Dental Association, an early visit can help identify problems and begin a lifelong habit of good dental care

Your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt.

We need to get to know each other at this first visit. We will perform a thorough examination of your child's mouth, and any necessary x-rays will be taken to complete the diagnosis. We use digital x-rays in our office; digital x-rays require 70% less radiation exposure than conventional x-rays. We have found that waiting until the second visit to perform a cleaning or other dental work is best for most children, and makes it much easier for them to keep their appointment.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child have his or her first oral health care appointment around age one. ADHA suggests an oral health visit as soon as a baby's first tooth erupts. This depends on your oral health status and any additional sources of fluoride that you may be receiving. Talk to your oral health care professionals about this topic for individualized information.

While the damage that dental fluorosis causes to the internal matrix of the teeth is permanent, the visible staining that fluorosis produces can be cosmetically treated by a dentist. Treatment options for fluorosis vary and will depend in part on the severity of the fluorosis and what you can afford (some of the treatments are very expensive). For mild forms of fluorosis, the most common form of treatment is "abrasion.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends your child should visit the dentist by his/her first birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and her staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. Please use positive words when telling your child about the dental visit.

We like the first visit to be an introduction to our office. This allows children to get used to the idea of the dentist and learn about what we do. Each child has a different comfort zone, and we want a child to proceed at a pace that works for him or her. It's vital to first build a child's trust, and sometimes we build trust by inviting you, the parent, to sit in the dental chair with your child in your lap. Your child's confidence will grow from there.

Parents and grandparents may visit anytime. Caregivers may make over night accommodations. Other visitors are welcome from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. During cold and flu season, there may be limitations on visitation of brothers and sisters less than seven years of age.

Of course. Treatment is a time to strengthen family bonds with frequent, supportive, communication. Your child may call you any time he or she wishes. You may call your child any time you wish. Non-emergency calls will be held during therapeutic sessions. Family visitation is every Saturday. If you are unable to attend on Saturday and wish to make special arrangements to visit on another day, we will accommodate you.

If you live in Champaign or Urbana, call the Health District Dental Clinic to make an appointment for your child: (217) 531-4279. If you live in Champaign County outside C-U call the County Dental Access Program: (217) 384-1689.

There is very little risk from receiving dental X-rays. Our state-of-the-art technology utilizes a fraction of the radiation used in the past. X-rays are highly valuable to find hidden decay, tumors and determine growth patterns. » Return to Top

Talk to your child about the dental visit in a positive way. For young children, describe the visit as meeting a new dentist friend, having your teeth counted and getting their teeth shined. There are books talking about children's dental visit (The Berenstein Bears, Dora the Explorer, Barney, etc.) that parents can read to their child before the appointment. It is also helpful for young children to watch older siblings having their teeth checked.

You are welcome to visit your child's classroom, but you are required to contact your child's teacher to make arrangements at least 24 hours prior to the visit. Please do not "pop in" without making arrangements through the office or with the teacher.

As little as possible. Make no bigger deal than going to the bank. Promise no rewards. DO NOT SAY, “IT WON’T HURT.” If there are questions, simply say, “They are really nice. They explain everything before they do it.”

We recommend that you bring your child in for a first visit sometime between 2 and 3 years of age. This first checkup may be a quick one, but it allows us to make sure everything is developing normally. It can also help your child get used to our office and staff, which can be very helpful in preparing for future visits. Prior to this age, you should brush your child's teeth regularly, and take note of anything out of the ordinary.