Your Child’s First Visit

Visiting Milktooth Pediatric Dentistry

What to Expect

We believe appointments should be fun and stress-free, so we’ve woven thought and intention behind every aspect of your patient experience. When you step into our building, Milktooth’s friendly faces will kindly greet you, check you in, and invite you and your child to enjoy our amenities before their appointment. Next, Dr. Amy will get to know you and your little one, so she can provide the most personalized treatment for their oral health success.

Fun, Stress-Free Appointments

How to Prepare for Your Child’s Visit

At Milktooth Pediatric Dentistry, we love building memorable and enjoyable first dental visits for Chicago kids, so they can enjoy taking care of their smiles for life. Here are just a few ways you can prepare your child for a seamless, positive first appointment:

  • Fill Out New Patient Forms online. We’re eliminating the piles of paperwork and providing simple, digital New Patient Forms. Simply fill the forms out in advance and submit them with just a few clicks.
  • Gather your child’s insurance information. If you’re planning on using insurance, make sure to have any dental insurance cards, proof of insurance, and policy number on hand.
  • Encourage your child. One of the best ways to help your child feel confident and fearless for their first appointment is to hype them up! Uplift them with words of encouragement and congratulate them for taking proactive steps to a healthier smile.
mother and daughter reading

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!

faqs

Browse through these frequently asked questions on first visits, or get in touch with our team today!

When Should My Child Start Seeing the Dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a child should visit the dentist by age 1, or within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth. Whichever comes first. Prevention has to start early by assessing the child's risk, as well as educating parents on how to take care of baby teeth. If your child has teeth, it's time!

How Often Should My Child Visit the Dentist?

Ideally, you should take your child to see the dentist every 6 months. Frequent visits are essential to the health of your child's developing teeth, and these visits allow your child's dentist to detect early signs of dental disease and decay. You may take excellent care of your child's teeth at home, but still have problems for which you can’t see symptoms. A dentist can catch these problems early, and treat the issue before it becomes a larger problem.

Baby Teeth Are Just Going to Fall Out. Why Bother Fixing Them?

Many baby teeth can stay in kids' mouths until they’re as old as 12 years, as baby teeth are the placeholders for the permanent teeth. Lose them early, and you could be looking at delayed eruption and migration of permanent teeth. This means permanent teeth have a higher chance of popping up in the wrong place, and are more costly to treat down the road with orthodontics. 

When there is decay in the mouth, bacteria is present in high numbers. As the permanent teeth erupt, they are bombarded by that bacteria, and quickly become decayed. Children with severe cavities have pain that prevents them from eating well, focusing in school, sleeping well at night, etc. Treating cavities in baby teeth will lower the risk of getting cavities in permanent teeth. In fact, the #1 risk factor for cavities is previous decay.

Quality, Convenient Care

Schedule an Appointment Online Today!

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