“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Although these wise words predate regular dental visits, they still hold true for the process of establishing a healthy, long-lasting smile. While getting an early jump provides children with far-reaching benefits, adults also have a lot to gain in establishing routine dental care.
Consider the following ways the first trip to the dentist’s office starts a positive lifetime relationship, no matter how old you are.
Setting the Stage for a Child’s Enduring Dental Health
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that young patients have their first dental visit by the time they turn one or when their first tooth erupts, whichever happens first. The main reason behind this recommendation is to prevent decay. Dentists check for any signs of a growing cavity at infant and toddler appointments and provide parents with information and tips on ways to keep their child’s teeth healthy and decay-free.
Making sure your child has a happy, comfortable introduction to dental care is the goal of these initial visits. Expect your child’s dentist to involve you often in this process, relying on your calming influence during examinations. Of course, issues like tongue and lip tie, baby bottle tooth decay, thumb sucking, and tongue thrusting are still priorities. Establishing early on that treatment is nothing to be worried about makes any necessary procedure a much more positive experience for a young patient. Beyond this, children who grow up seeing a dentist regularly tend to have better oral health throughout adulthood and are much less likely to skip out on daily brushing and flossing.
Making Up for Lost Time
According to a study by the ADA, only 35.4 percent of working-age adults visited the dentist in 2012, and more current follow-up reports aren’t revealing much change on this front. This brings forward the distressing idea that there are some individuals who have never had their oral health evaluated. Financial constraints and the belief that no treatment was necessary topped the list of reasons many avoided scheduling a visit with a dentist, closely followed by embarrassment about waiting too long to seek care.
As ongoing research uncovers the impact of tooth loss, orthodontic problems, and gum disease on overall wellness, dentists across the country work hard to make essential treatment more accessible. Much of their approach is making information about proper hygiene and the importance of preventive care readily available. More than this, they are shifting the culture of the dental office away from chastising those who haven’t had a routine check-up to praising those who recognize that they need help. This, along with improvements in the efficiency and comfort of many procedures, makes it easier for everyone to achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve.
Get Started on the Right Track – Schedule an Appointment Today!
Dr. Benjamin Williams finds great reward in helping patients of all ages understand more about their oral health and creating positive experiences, whether it’s the start or a return to dental care. At Woodlawn Dental, it is our privilege to provide a warm, caring environment and quality dental services for families in Birmingham, Crestwood, Gardendale, and our neighbors throughout Jefferson County. Give us a call today to schedule a visit!