As you know, we recommend regular checkups with us at your Dentist Epping to ensure catching any problems early to minimise their impact on your oral health.
That also applies to your child, too, so we can monitor their oral health while their mouth and teeth grow.
But when should you bring your child for the first time?
The Australian Dental Association recommends that a child’s first visit is within six months of their first tooth appearing – and no later than their first birthday. That way we can check for tooth decay and any other problems that may exist at this early stage. Our dentist can also show you how to clean your child’s teeth properly and how to deal with any adverse habits, such as thumb sucking.
Another crucial dental period for your child is when they are about seven. By then, your child’s mouth will have sufficiently grown for us to know how it will develop as their permanent teeth emerge.
Suppose we at Dentist Epping can see that your child might be developing an overbite, underbite, or crowded, spaced, or protruding teeth. In that case, we will recommend the child see an orthodontist to alleviate a developing problem.
We’ll also help you and your child correct their habit of thumbsucking or thrusting the tongue against the teeth.
Depending on the situation, the orthodontist may recommend immediate treatment with:
- a retainer to help hold the teeth in position
- a spacer to keep a space between two teeth where one should be
- braces to align, straighten or position the primary teeth as the new adult teeth emerge over time.
However, the orthodontist may recommend delaying treatment until your child is older (usually in their teens) when most of their adult teeth have emerged. Later treatment usually involves braces to align, straighten or position teeth.
Whether your child is receiving orthodontic care or not, continue your child’s regular dental checkups with us at Dentist Epping! That way, we have an overview of what is happening to your child’s oral health overall.
To find out more, please click this link for an appointment with us:
https://rawsondental.com.au/book-now/
