When should my child have their first dental visit?

Your child should have their first visit within 6 months of first tooth eruption or by 12 months of age.

This recommendation has been updated from previous guidelines, which suggested a first visit at 36 months. Research has shown that waiting until 36 months is too late to effectively prevent cavities.

Why is it recommended so early?

The recommendation is for multiple reasons:

1. Get your child used to the dental environment
   • Early dental visits can increase comfort with exams and procedures
2. Provide guidance on brushing/flossing at home
   • Your dental hygienist can help improve home care by parents
   • Early prevention can reduce risk of cavities
3. Catch cavities early and treat them
   • If your child has cavities then we can treat them conservatively as cavities are small

What does a first dental visit include?

A first dental visit will include the following:

• medical history
• oral/dental exam
• risk factors for cavities
  • diet
  • oral home care
  • dental anomalies
  • fluoride availability

Your dentist should then discuss your child’s exam findings and risk factors. A bilateral discussion should take place to address risk factors and develop a plan for any concerns present

Early dental visits save time and costs!

Studies show early dental visits can prevent cavities, which means less treatment! Less treatment means less dental-related costs and days off from school and work for parents.

Small cavities that are caught early can be treated with conservative treatments that are more cost-effective. An example is applying silver diamine fluoride which can arrest cavities and stop them from progressing. It works on small cavities and is successful if the diet and oral hygiene turns around. 

Early dental visits prevent pain and emergency visits!

Later first dental visits can result in cavities growing which can result in pain! This means higher chance of having dental pain, infection and a hospital emergency visit.

Studies show kids without early dental visits have a a higher chance of going to the emergency room for dental-related pain.

The final word:

Your child should have their first dental visit within six months of their first tooth erupting or by 12 months of age. Early visits help monitor development, improve oral hygiene, and prevent cavities. They also allow for early, conservative, and cost-effective treatment when needed; reducing the risk of pain, infection, and emergency visits.

References:

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on the dental home. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL:. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2025:42-4.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on minimally invasive dentistry. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2025:107-9.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on the use of silver diammine fluoride for pediatric dental patients. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2025:113-5.

Baker SD, Lee JY, Wright R. The Importance of the Age One Dental Visit. Chicago, IL: Pediatric Oral Health Research and Policy Center, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2019.

Canadian Dental Association. (ND). Your child’s first visit. https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/first_visit.asp

Canadian Dental Association. (2012, March). CDA position on first visit to the dentist. https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/firstvisit/

Savage MF, Lee JY, Kotch JB, Vann WF Jr. Early preventive dental visits: effects on subsequent utilization and costs. Pediatrics. 2004 Oct;114(4):e418-23. doi: 10.1542/peds.2003-0469-F. PMID: 15466066.