Your Child: First Dental Exam to First Teeth

Your Child’s First Dental Exam

Parents often wonder when they should bring their child to their first dental exam. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends that children see a dentist either within six months of their first tooth coming out (also called “eruption”), or by twelve months of age. During your toddler’s first visit, the dentist counts the number of teeth, examines gum development and verifies that the eruption pattern of their teeth is normal and healthy.

 

Regular Dental Visits

The CDA emphasizes the importance of having your child’s teeth examined by a dentist every six months. This helps ensure that his or her teeth are coming in properly and reduces the chance of complications in the future.

As your child grows and becomes more comfortable with his or her dental provider, your dentist may prescribe routine cleaning, sealants or fluoride treatment in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. In the meantime, there are a number of things you can do at home to care for your baby’s teeth, among them being aware of the pros and cons of sippy cups.

 

First Teeth: Eruption and Exfoliation Charts for Primary and Permanent Dentition

Your newborn will have their lower front baby teeth erupting at the age of 6 months. All 20 baby teeth will have erupted by the age of 3. At the age of 6 the baby teeth will start to exfoliate and the permanent teeth will start to erupt.

The tables below are guidelines for the eruption and exfoliation of your child’s baby teeth and adult teeth. Your child’s teeth may erupt before or after the dates shown on the charts. The important thing is the sequence of eruption and whether or not the eruption is symmetrical. For example, both front teeth should be erupting at the same time. If not, you should bring your child in to the dental office to take a radiograph to see what is going on as the tooth that is not erupting may be blocked.