For anticipatory guidance, when should a child have their first dental visit?

• A. At birth
• B. By 6 months
• C. At 1 year, then every 6 months thereafter
• D. At 3 years

Answer: (C)

Establishing a dental home early and using anticipatory guidance to prevent decay is the idea here. The recommended time for a child’s first dental visit is when they reach one year of age, with follow-up visits about every six months after that. This timing lets the clinician monitor eruption patterns, assess risk for early childhood caries, and provide practical guidance to caregivers—such as brushing with fluoride toothpaste appropriate for the child’s age, limiting bedtime bottle use, reducing Sugars in the diet, and applying preventive measures like fluoride varnish or sealants when indicated. Starting care at this age also helps the child become comfortable with dental visits, which supports ongoing oral health habits as they grow.

Waiting until birth isn’t necessary because there aren’t teeth to assess, and six months is earlier than the recommended initial preventive visit. Delaying until three years misses critical opportunities to prevent caries and to establish a preventive dental routine.