The nurse is seeing a client in the clinic with her 18-month-old daughter. The client asks the nurse when her child should start going to the dentist. Which response by the nurse is correct?
“She should start receiving oral exams at 2 years of age.”
“She should go to a dentist once a year beginning at age 3.”
“You don’t need to worry about it until she starts kindergarten.”
Number 1 is correct.
Rationale: Current recommendations regarding oral health suggest beginning dental care for a child by the first birthday. Age 2 is past the recommended age range for first dental visits. Age 3 is also past the recommended age range for first dental visits. Waiting until the child starts kindergarten increases the risk of cavities and the buildup of tartar.
