Dental Care for Children

The WDA, American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend children be examined by a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or dental medicine (DMD) within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than age 1.

According to a February 2005 Children's Dental Health Project report, low-income children who have their first dental exam by age 1 are less likely to visit emergency rooms for oral health problems or require restorative care. In addition, 5-year-olds who had their first dental visit at age 1 have incurred oral health-related costs at a rate about one-half that of their peers who don't see a dentist until age 5.