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Initial Dental Visit

Course Author(s): American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Chicago, IL

Initial Dental Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that every infant should receive an oral health risk assessment from their primary health care provider or qualified health care professional by 6 months of age. This initial visit should consist of the following:

  • Health of oral cavity
  • Assessing the patient’s risk of developing oral disease
  • Providing education on infant oral health
  • Evaluating and optimizing fluoride exposure
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Initial Dental Visit

Parents or caregivers should establish a dental home for infants by the child’s first birthday. The dental home establishes a therapeutic relationship, familiarizes a child with dental care, provides a source of emergency care and creates a care program unique to that child and family. This provides time-critical opportunities to implement preventive health practices and reduce the child’s risk of preventable dental/oral disease. Should treatment be required, appropriate recommendations and referrals can be made at that time.

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