Infant & Toddler Exams
Gentle first visits to build trust, comfort, and healthy habits early.
Start your child's dental health journey early. Our gentle, first checkups for babies and toddlers (as early as their first birthday) are designed to prevent future problems, create positive experiences, and give parents the tools for healthy at-home care - all in a calm and reassuring environment.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Serena Yu, Lead Paediatric Dentist at Starlight Dental. A.B. Brown University (USA), DMD Tufts University (USA), Paediatric Dentistry NYU Langone (USA)
Why It’s Important
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Early Prevention
Helps spot issues early, supporting healthy growth and alignment.
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Positive First Experience
Builds comfort and trust early, helping kids enjoy their dental visits.
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Parental Guidance
Offers parents gentle guidance on brushing, teething, and nutrition for healthy smiles.
What happens at your child's first dental visit
Our main focus for the first visit is to encourage parents to take an active role in the child’s oral health. We will provide helpful tips on how to brush and floss, diet and nutrition advice, and some dental milestones to look out for. We check how the teeth and jaw are developing, look for early decay or a lip or tongue tie, and talk you through teething, thumb-sucking, and bottle habits. Most first visits take about 20 minutes and end with a “happy visit” sticker, not a treatment plan, the goal is simply to get your child comfortable in the chair and build trust with our team.
When should your baby first see a dentist
Most paediatric dentists, and Singapore's own health guidance, recommend a first visit by age 1, or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first. Don't wait for a problem to show, the earlier we see your child, the easier it is to head off decay before it starts. And if your toddler is already 2, 3, or older and hasn't been yet, there's no cut-off and nothing to catch up on, we'll simply tailor the same gentle approach to wherever they're starting from.
A note for nervous parents
It's completely normal to feel more anxious about this visit than your toddler is. Some children cry, wriggle, or refuse to open their mouth on the first try, that's a normal reaction to something new, not a sign the visit went badly.
Sources: HealthHub Singapore, Paediatric Dentistry: Child's First Encounter
FAQs
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Most paediatric dentists, and Singapore's own health guidance, recommend a first visit by age 1, or within six months of the first tooth appearing, whichever comes first. Don't wait for a problem to show, the earlier we see your child, the easier it is to head off decay before it starts. And if your toddler is already 2, 3, or older and hasn't been yet, there's no cut-off and nothing to catch up on, we'll simply tailor the same gentle approach to wherever they're starting from.
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No, the visit is as much about checking growth and habits as it is about teeth.
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That's normal. We'll try a few gentle approaches and, if needed, continue building comfort over a second visit.