Check-ups
Pediatric dental check-ups, from the first tooth through the teen years.
A check-up every six months, from the first tooth through the teen years. The exam covers the teeth, the bite, and the soft tissue, and what we look for changes as your child grows. Dr. Farooq has done only pediatric dentistry since 1999.
By age
What a check-up looks at, by stage.
The visit is the same length at every age and almost nothing else about it stays the same. Here is what we are watching for as your child moves through each stage, and what you will be asked about.
- 01
The first years
From the first tooth, or around the first birthday. Short, and mostly for you: teething, bottles, pacifiers, and cleaning teeth that are barely there. We look for early decay at the gumline.
- 02
Early childhood
Roughly three to six. A full exam with your child’s cooperation rather than on your lap. We watch spacing, since crowding now often predicts crowding later.
- 03
The growing years
Seven and up. Permanent molars arrive and get sealed, baby teeth leave on their own schedule, and the bite is watched as it changes.
- 04
The teen years
Same dentist, different conversation. Wisdom teeth watched on schedule, sports guards if your child plays, and questions answered to your teenager.
Exam or cleaning
A check-up and a cleaning are two different things.
The cleaning is the hygiene work: scaling, polishing, flossing, and fluoride varnish. The check-up is Dr. Farooq’s examination of the teeth, the bite, and the soft tissue, plus the conversation about what to do next. Most visits include both, and they are booked together.
What a cleaning includesWhat to bring
Six things, and none of them are a problem if you forget.
The front desk can look most of this up. Bringing it just makes the first visit shorter and gives us the full picture.
- Insurance or Medicaid card
- A list of any medications
- Names of other doctors your child sees
- Completed new patient forms, or ten extra minutes
- A comfort item, if your child has one
- Questions you want answered before anything starts
Questions parents ask
Before the six-month visit.
The questions parents ask most about check-ups.
When should the first check-up be?
Around the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming in, whichever happens first. Most parents find that earlier than expected. The visit is short, and it is mostly about showing you what to do at home before problems start.
Can we just come once a year?
We do not recommend it. Six months is short enough that a problem found at a visit is still small, and long enough that a healthy mouth is not being checked for no reason. At a year, the things we find tend to have grown.
Do you take X-rays at every check-up?
No. We take them when there is a reason: contacts we cannot see into, a history of decay, or a specific concern. Imaging is scaled to children.
What if my child will not open up?
Then the visit becomes a conversation and a look, and the rest waits. A first visit that ends with a child willing to come back is a successful first visit.
How long does a check-up take?
A check-up on its own takes about 15 minutes. With a cleaning and any X-rays, plan on around 30 minutes, and we start close to your appointment time.
What parents say about check-ups.
Google review“Dr. Farooq has been nothing but kind, encouraging and patient with my 3 year old. She’s been going to Dr. Farooq since her teeth first came in. Every 6 months she jumps in the car without hesitation.”
Google review“Dr. Farooq and her staff are very thorough. They are patient and truly care about my girls’ dental health. Every 6 months we are there for our routine cleanings and dental care, and appointments are quick, in and out.”
Google review“I have been bringing my kids here since they were in kindergarten and they are now in 6th grade! Every time we go it’s always a great experience, from the beginning to the very end!”
Often booked with a check-up
Book a visit
Ready to schedule your child’s visit?
Call us during office hours or send a request online any time. Our team will reach out to book a time that works for your family.
New patients are always welcome.
Front desk, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
After-hours dental emergency? Call 248-345-6775.
Have an emergency?
If your child is struggling to breathe or swallow, or has a head injury, call 911 first. For a dental emergency that is not life-threatening, such as a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, dental swelling, or pain that will not settle, call our emergency line, day or night. We would rather tell you it can wait than have you sit on it over a weekend.