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Congratulations! The first dental visit is a milestone for you and your child! We follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation for the first visit. We recommend a first visit as soon as the first tooth erupts or no later than your child’s first birthday.

This visit is all about introducing your baby to the dental office. The first appointment is largely education oriented allows parents to discuss how to care for an infant or toddler’s mouth, proper use of fluoride, cavity risk assessment, information about prevention of dental problems, discussion about teething and what dental milestones to expect (anticipatory guidance), habits such as thumb sucking and ways to prevent dental trauma.

You can prepare your child by reading books about going to the dentist or watching a favorite cartoon about first dental visits. Here is a list of some children’s books about Going to the dentist:

ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z, by Harriet Ziefert Illustrated by Liz Murphy

Arthur’s Loose Tooth, Lillian Hoban (Illustrator), Terry Christie

Arthur’s Tooth, Mark Brown

Barney Goes to the Dentist, Linda Cress Dowdy, Dennis Full (Illustrator)

The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, Stan and Jan Berenstain

Brush Your Teeth Please, Leslie McGuire, Jean Pidgeon, and Dina Anastasio

Clifford’s Loose Tooth (Big Red Reader), Wendy Cheyette Lewison, Norman Bridwell, John Kurtz, and Sandrina Kurtz

The Crocodile and the Dentist, Taro Gomi, Earl Pully, and Steve Blane

David Decides about Thumbsucking: A Story for Children, A Guide for Parents, Susan Heitler, Ph.D.

Doctor De Soto, by William Steig Illustrated by William Steig

Dora the Explorer: Show Me Your Smile Christine Ricci, Robert Roper (Illustrator)

Freddie Visits the Dentist (Little Barron’s Toddler Books), Nicola Smee

Going to the Dentist (First Experiences), Anne Civardi

Have You Ever Seen a Moose Brushing His Teeth?, Jamie McClaine

I Know Why I Brush My Teeth (Sam’s Science), Kate Rowan, Katharine McEwen (Illustrator)

Just Going to the Dentist: Golden Look-Look Book, Mercer Mayer (Illustrator)