At what age should a child have their first dental visit?

AAPD RECOMMENDATION: First dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth eruption. WHY EARLY: Dental caries (cavities) is the most common chronic childhood disease; early dental visits establish preventive care habits, identify early caries risk, provide fluoride varnish application, and educate parents about baby bottle tooth decay (putting infants to sleep with bottles of juice or milk); dentist assesses eruption patterns and jaw development. LPN/nursing role: educate parents at 6-9 month well-child visits about the first dental appointment recommendation. Early dental care prevents the pain, infection, and costs of untreated early childhood caries.