If you have a child who is very young, you should consider scheduling a dental appointment for your child by the time he or she reaches the age of two. A first visit for a young child will likely be very different than the type of visit you have, but it is still a good idea to begin visits at this age. As the child grows up, the dentist may add more steps to the visits, and here are several things to understand about the progression of what is done at dental visits for kids.

A typical two-year-old visit will be very basic.

A two-year-old child will not have to go through a regular cleaning of the teeth at a dental visit, but a dentist will take a look inside the child's mouth. The purpose of this is to make sure that the child does not have any decay yet and to help you learn the best techniques for caring for your child's teeth and mouth. A pediatric dental specialist will try to make this visit fun for your child, simply so that he or she looks forward to coming back again.

The next visits may include scraping and polishing.

As your child ages, you should expect the visits to be different. For example, by the time the child is three or four, the visits might include scraping and polishing of the teeth; however, this will depend on how well the child does while there.

Fluoride treatments will be added.

Additionally, by the age of three of four, a child will also typically be ready to begin getting fluoride treatments. Fluoride treatments are extremely beneficial for kids this age, as they are just getting their teeth, and this is because fluoride is a mineral that makes teeth stronger. If you are still using training toothpaste with your child, getting these fluoride treatments will be very important, as your child is probably not getting enough fluoride exposure on his or her teeth.

By the age of four or five, the visits may include x-rays.

When your child reaches the age of four or five, the dentist might begin taking x-rays during these visits. X-rays in dentistry help dentists see things they cannot see by just looking inside a child's mouth, and they can be helpful for spotting minor issues with teeth.

The purpose of starting early is to get your child accustomed to going to the dentist and to help your child enjoy it. The other purpose is for you to be able to learn more about your child's oral health and to find ways to help your child have healthier, stronger teeth.