A child should first see a dentist by their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first. That visit is mostly a quick look and advice for parents, not treatment. At AR 32 we recommend our MDS Pedodontics (children's dentistry) department for children aged 1 to 10.
Most parents in Pune bring a child to the dentist for the first time when something already hurts, often at four or five years old, with a cavity that has been growing quietly for a year or more. Paediatric dental guidance, including what is followed in India, advises a much earlier first visit: by the first birthday, or within six months of the first milk tooth coming through. The idea is not to start treatment on a baby. It is to catch problems before there is anything to treat.
Decay in very young children, called early childhood caries, can begin within months of the first teeth erupting. It usually starts on the upper front teeth as dull white lines near the gum, which most parents do not notice. Night-time bottle or breast feeds once the teeth are in, sweetened milk, and sharing spoons are all common, normal parts of family life that can feed this process. A dentist who sees the child early can point out what to change while the enamel can still recover.
An early visit also gives your child a calm first experience of a dental chair, with nothing painful attached to it. Children whose first visit is for toothache often remember the dentist as the person who hurt them.
X-rays are usually not needed at a first baby visit. They are taken only if there is a specific reason.
If your child is three, five or seven and has never been, do not worry about having "missed" the right age. Book a check-up now rather than waiting for pain. Signs that should bring you in sooner include brown or black spots, a tooth that has gone grey, swelling or a pimple on the gum, bad breath that does not go away, or a child who refuses to chew on one side.
Our general clinic sees patients aged 10 and above. For children aged 1 to 10, we recommend a consultation with our MDS Pedodontics department. Pedodontists are dentists with a three-year postgraduate specialisation in treating children, from infancy to adolescence. They are visiting consultants who see children at our Kharadi clinic by prior appointment.
You can choose the specialist panel and the Pedodontics department in our online booking engine. Our current published fee for an MDS specialist consultation is ₹1,500. If you are not sure whether your child needs the specialist or can be seen in the general clinic, call us on 8484 990 678 and we will guide you.
A practical tip: book a slot when your child is fresh and fed, not straight after a long drive through Kharadi traffic at nap time. A tired toddler makes for a short and tearful visit.
More answers on children's teeth are on our kids' dentistry hub.
Kharadi runs late. Reception will tell you honestly whether you need an appointment yet.
Book — Rs 500 ☎ 8484990678