Infant Oral Health Exams
In the New York Area
Infant Oral Health Exams
Gentle, Early Care for Your Baby’s Smile in New York City
Welcoming a new baby into your family is an incredible milestone, and as a parent, you want to do everything possible to keep them healthy. While it might seem early, taking care of your child’s oral health should begin long before they have a full set of teeth.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) highly recommends that children visit the dentist within six months of the eruption of their first tooth, or no later than their first birthday. At LAVAAN Smiles, our infant oral health exams are designed to be gentle, informative, and stress-free, establishing a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Why Visit the Dentist So Early?
Many parents wonder why a dental visit is necessary when a baby only has one or two tiny teeth. Early infant exams serve several crucial purposes:
Establishing a Dental Home: Introducing your child to the dental office at a young age helps them become familiar with the sights, sounds, and friendly faces. This early exposure drastically reduces dental anxiety as they grow older.
Preventative Care: Baby teeth are highly susceptible to decay, particularly from frequent nighttime feedings (often referred to as "baby bottle tooth decay"). We can spot the earliest signs of demineralization and stop decay in its tracks.
Developmental Monitoring: We assess the development of your baby’s jaws and soft tissues, ensuring everything is progressing normally.
Parental Education: An infant exam is just as much for the parents as it is for the child. It provides a dedicated time to ask our pediatric experts all your questions about teething, oral hygiene, and feeding.
What to Expect During the Exam
We know that a baby’s attention span is short, so infant exams are quick, comfortable, and highly interactive.
For the utmost comfort, we typically perform a "knee-to-knee" exam. You and the dentist will sit facing each other with your knees touching. Your baby will sit in your lap and gently lay their head back into the dentist's lap. This allows your baby to see your face and hold your hands the entire time, keeping them calm and secure.
During this brief exam, we will carefully check:
The health and eruption pattern of any newly emerging teeth.
The gums, cheeks, and soft tissues for any abnormalities.
The presence of any restrictive tongue-ties or lip-ties that could interfere with feeding or speech.
Your baby's bite and early jaw development.
Partnering with Parents
After the physical exam, our team will sit down with you to discuss a personalized home care routine for your little one. We will provide hands-on demonstrations and helpful guidance regarding:
Teething Relief: Safe and effective strategies to soothe your baby's sore gums.
Brushing Techniques: How to properly clean those very first teeth using an infant-sized toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste.
Diet and Nutrition: The impact of breast milk, formula, and solid foods on developing enamel.
Habit Counseling: Guidance on pacifier use and thumb-sucking to prevent future orthodontic issues.
Start Their Smile Journey with LAVAAN
Give your baby the best possible start for their oral health. Schedule an infant oral health exam with our warm, compassionate pediatric team today.
Visit us at one of our 3 convenient New York locations:
West Village: 474 6th Ave., New York, NY 10011 | 212-837-1833
Upper East Side: 1196 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10028 | 212-879-1845
Midtown West: 311 West 43rd St, Suite 405, New York, NY 10036 | 212-581-5050
"My favorite dentist office I’ve ever been to. The front desk staff is nice and capable. I never have to wait and the hygienist and dentist are fabulous."
