Our Services / Early Dental Care

Why is early dental care so important?

Cavities can start as soon as teeth are present, and we have found that many new parents don’t have a great plan for when or how to start taking care of their infants’ teeth. We are here to teach new parents how to take care of these new baby teeth!

Did you know that baby teeth have enamel that is much, much thinner than adult tooth enamel? This means cavities can grow faster in baby teeth than in adult teeth.

 Dr. Murray has additional training for infant oral care, and is an expert at detecting problems when they are small and teaching caregivers good habits. This includes ways to brush for your toddler who prefers to brush all by themselves, or discussing how parents can make nutrition choices that can reduce the risk of cavities.

Infants that see the dentist early will have parents that have more information to make good choices for teeth, better chances of catching dental problems early, reducing dental treatment later on, and will be more comfortable in the dental office when they are school aged. 

When should I bring my baby in to see a dentist?

According to the American Dental Association, children should begin coming to see the dentist during their first year of life, within six months of their first tooth emerging through the gum tissue. While this may seem early, these initial visits are beneficial to both parents and children. 

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Murray specializes in working with kids of all ages. Iris Pediatric Dentistry is equipped with the child-sized dental equipment needed to perform early dental exams and cleanings.

When kids begin coming in for routine dental care as babies, they grow up understanding that dental health is just a part of life, just like going to school or going to see the pediatrician. That sets them up for a lifetime of good dental health habits. 

By the age of two, most kids should be coming in for routine dental exams and cleanings every six months. These visits allow Dr. Murray and her team to check for signs of concern and make plans with parents about what they can do at home to help their kiddos improve. 

What happens during early dental care visits?

Dr. Murray likes to start by meeting the family and getting to know a parent’s concerns and questions. Once we have had a chance to discuss ways to your baby’s dental health needs at home, the exam and brushing are completely quickly and with song. This allows her to efficiently evaluate any concerns, while making the visit as easy as possible for the child. 

Some of the topics covered during early dental care visits include:

• Baby bottle tooth decay
• Pacifier habits
• Thumb sucking habits
• Teething
• Infant feeding practices

You’ll also learn how to use a gentle brush to perform daily dental hygiene routines for your baby and how to transition into having them “help” take care of their own teeth. As your child matures, the focus during dental visits shifts to teaching them optimal brushing and flossing habits.

Schedule an early dental care visit today by calling the office. Online booking is also an option and is fast and easy.