According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated that roughly three percent of children ages 12 through 19 years of age have never visited a dentist. The CDC also estimates that children between the ages of five through 11 years old already have at least one decayed tooth. This estimation is 20 percent. The Surgeon General recently reported that dental problems among children account for approximately 51 million missed days from school.
Dealing with a toothache, abscess, or gum disease is a true dental emergency. The majority, if not all, of dental problems, can be prevented if children receive regular dental exams.
What Age Should Children Visit a Dentist?
There is much controversy around what age a child should visit the dentist for the first time. Some parents believe that children should make this first visit between the ages of 4 and 6. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should visit the dentist at the age of one year, or within six months of their first tooth surfacing.
Children mature at different ages, and at different rates. No two children are the same, and neither will their teeth surface at the same age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has an updated schedule as to when children should visit the dentist. This schedule will help parents stay on track of their children’s oral health. When looking at the chart (click the link above), parents will see at a glance, that their child should make his or her first dental visit, before the age of one year old.
Tooth Decay Has No Age Limit
Too many parents assume that their infant or toddler is too young to have dental problems. After reading this information in the schedule in the dental guide, it is determined that a child should see the dentist at the first sign of a surfacing tooth. Visits should then continue every six months according to the dental guide schedule.
Children who fail to receive regular dental care are at risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, periodontal disease, and other dental problems. Give your children the head start they need for healthy teeth and gums today. Schedule your child’s pediatric dentist visit today.