Obtaining treatment for caries can be difficult, since according to a 1997 study, almost 4.2 million children in the U.S. were unable to obtain dental care. In the past, children went to the dentist only after a problem was severe enough to be noticed by a parent. Such an outdated, reactive, approach is no longer appropriate in the age of preventive health, however. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend that a child's first oral health visit take place at 12 months of age, or shortly after the eruption of the first baby teeth. This is the ideal time for a dentist to evaluate a child's oral and dental health, as well as to diagnose any problems which may exist.
Oral health is a vital component of a child's overall health.
A partnership between families, dental professionals, and other health professionals is necessary for achieving oral health in children. By providing a healthy diet, minimizing the consumption of sweets, cleaning a child's teeth twice a day, and getting early dental examinations, a child can have a happy, healthy smile. This should not be a cause for alarm, however. It occurs when the adult lower front teeth begin to erupt into the mouth, but the baby teeth have not fallen out yet. It is usually not necessary to have the over-retained primary incisors extracted in this situation, however.