Thoroughly examine your child's mouth in the knee-to-knee position. You and the dentist sit on chairs facing each other. Your child sits on your lap, facing you. You then lay your child back with his or her head in the dentist' lap. In this position, both you and dentist can see clearly into your child's mouth and your child can look up at you.

- Show how to clean your child's teeth and give you a chance to practice

- Give specific advise about home care, including hygiene, diet and use of toothpaste and other fluorides

- Tell you what to expect as your child grows and develops in the coming months

- Suggest a schedule to follow-up care

Dr. Olga will also address overall oral health, including:

- Development

- Teething

- Bite (how your child's teeth will come together)

- Soft tissues such as gums and cheeks

- Oral habits such as sucking

- Factors that affect the risk of cavities, such as diet, hygiene practices, fluoride use and whether others in the family have had cavities

- How to prevent trauma to your child's mouth

Before leaving the office, you should have a clear idea about your child's development, your responsibilities, follow-up care by the dentist and your child's likelihood of having problems with cavities or bite.

You should have your questions answered. You also should know what you and our dentist can do together to make sure your child has excellent oral health. Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry, Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise AZ