What age should a child start going to the dentist? It’s a great question – and one we hear frequently here at The Super Dentists. We’re the #1 pediatric dentistry in the San Diego area, thanks to a unique combination of high-skilled dentists, state-of-the-art dental technologies and amazing amenities unlike any other dentist office. Our revolutionary approach to kids’ dental care means that every child – including yours – will have an out-of-this-world experience every time they visit The Super Dentists!
Our pediatric care experts get tons of questions from concerned patients just like you. “When should kids start going to the dentist” is a frequent query. And we have the answer – actually, answers. That’s right, there are three key ages when kids should go to the dentist.
What Age Should a Child Go to the Dentist: Why Should Kids See the Dentist at Age 1?
When do kids go to the dentist for the first time? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children make their first visit to the dentist by no later than age 1 to establish a foundation for their dental care.
This dental visit allows parents to address their child’s oral health in a number of areas:
- Management of oral habits such as finger and thumb sucking
- Teething
- The connection between diet and oral health
- How to care for an infant’s or toddler’s dental health
When Should Kids Start Going to the Dentist Again: Why Should Kids See the Dentist at Age 4?
Age 4 represents a critical age for a child to correct bad oral habits such as sucking or chewing on fingers and thumbs. And with an age 4 dental visit, dentists can reinforce strategies to help a child overcome these bad habits quickly and effectively.
This dental visit is the important “bridge” between when kids should start going to the dentist (age 1) and what age a child should see an orthodontist, which is 7 years old.
Why Should Kids See the Dentist at Age 7?
By age 7, a child’s first molars erupt, resulting in a backbite. This enables orthodontists to properly evaluate the front-to-back and side-to-side relationships between a child’s teeth and identify potential future dental problems and enough time to create a plan to solve those issues.
By seeing an orthodontist at age 7, a child may be able to reduce the risk of tooth trauma as well as the need to extract permanent teeth in the future.
Visit The Super Dentists for Exceptional Dental and Orthodontic Care – For any Age!
Our pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and parent dentistry practice include six area offices serving the greater San Diego area. If you’re ready to take your child to Southern California’s premier dentists and orthodontists, call 1 (855) GO SUPER, or text The Super Dentists at 1 (844) 765-1234. We also offer convenient online scheduling.
