American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry dental care recommendations by age:

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6 - 12 Months

1. Comprehensive clinical oral examination and radiographic assessment.

2. Caries-risk assessment.
3. Provide oral hygiene counseling for parents, including the implications of the oral health of the caregiver.
4. Clean teeth.
5. Assess the child’s exposure to systemic and topical fluorides (including type of infant formula used) and exposure to
fluoridated toothpaste and provide counseling regarding fluoride.
6. Assess appropriateness of feeding practices, including bottle and breastfeeding, and provide counseling as
indicated; provide dietary counseling related to oral health.
7. Provide age-appropriate injury prevention counseling for orofacial trauma.
8. Provide counseling for non-nutritive oral habits (e.g., digit, pacifiers).
9. Provide required treatment or appropriate referral for any oral diseases or injuries.
10. Provide anticipatory guidance.
11. Assess overall growth and development, and make appropriate referral to therapeutic services if needed.
12. Consult with the child’s physician as needed.
13. Determine the interval for periodic reevaluation.

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12 to 24 months
1. Repeat the procedures for ages six to 12 months every six months or as indicated by the child’s individual needs
or risk status/susceptibility to disease.
2. Assess appropriateness of feeding practices (including bottle, breastfeeding, and no-spill training cups) and
provide counseling as indicated.
3. Review patient’s fluoride status and provide parental counseling.
4. Provide topical fluoride treatments every six months oras indicated by the child’s individual needs or risk
status/susceptibility to caries.

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2 to 6 years
1. Repeat the procedures for 12 to 24 months every six months or as indicated by the child’s individual needs.

2. Provide age-appropriate oral hygiene instructions.
2. Assess diet and body mass index to identify patterns placing patients at increased risk for dental caries or
obesity. Provide counseling or appropriate referral to a pediatric or nutritional specialist as indicated.
3. Clean teeth every six months
4. Provide pit-and-fissure sealants for caries-susceptible anterior and posterior primary and permanent teeth.
5. Provide counseling and services (e.g., mouthguards) as needed for orofacial trauma prevention.
6. Assess developing dentition and occlusion and provide assessment/treatment or referral of malocclusion as
indicated by individual patient’s needs.
7. Provide required treatment or appropriate referral for any oral diseases, habits, or injuries as indicated.
8. Assess speech and language development and provide appropriate referral as indicated.

6 to 12 years
1. Repeat the procedures for ages two to six years every six months or as indicated by child’s individual needs.
2. Complete a periodontal-risk assessment that may include radiographs and periodontal probing with eruption of
first permanent molars.
3. Provide substance abuse counseling (e.g., smoking, smokeless tobacco) and referral to primary care providers or behavioral health/addiction specialists if indicated.
4. Provide education and counseling regarding HPV and the benefits of the HPV vaccine.
5. Provide counseling on intraoral/perioral piercing.

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12 years and older
1. Repeat the procedures for ages six to 12 years every six months or as indicated by the child’s individual needs or risk status/susceptibility to disease.
2. During late adolescence, assess the presence, position, and development of third molars, giving consideration to removal when there is a high probability of disease or pathology or the risks associated with early removal are less than the risks of later removal.

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