The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child go to the dentist by age one or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Visiting Dr. Fan at this age builds a comfortable relationship between your child and our team, and helps us ensure that your child has a good start on a lifetime of oral health.

Dr. Fan is a general dentist who provides care for children. This means that you can take care of your entire family’s dental health under one roof, from people you know and trust. We may refer you to a pediatric dentist if your child is very apprehensive about dental treatment or requires specialized care.

At Advanced Family Dentistry, we want kids to love coming to our office. We use words that are non-threatening to your child while explaining everything we do, every step of the way. We believe that honesty is the best policy, for both patients and parents. Our young patients generally do great at our Freehold dental office, whether they’re here for a six-month cleaning, dental sealants, fluoride treatment, or fillings.

Home Oral Care for Your Child

A child’s first tooth becomes visible in the mouth around the age of six months. The AAPD recommends using a smear (or roughly the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste for children from tooth eruption through age two, and families should increase this to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for children ages three and six.

You can start cleaning your baby’s teeth by wiping with a soft cloth or brushing with a small soft toothbrush and water. At 18 months, start using a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth. Brushing every bit of every tooth helps remove plaque from your child’s teeth and reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Ensuring Your Child’s Smile Success

As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to make sure your child looks forward to visits to our office. If your child has dental visit fears, ask them to tell you what they are. Try to listen and understand how they may be feeling. Answer their questions, and offer positive experiences of dentals visits you have had.