What is a Knee-To-Knee Pediatric Dental Exam?
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The American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommends taking your child to the dentist by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth erupting. At their first visit, you may see the dentist perform a knee-to-knee exam, also called a lap-exam, for your little one. This is a common practice in a pediatric dental office since 1-2 year olds typically can’t sit up in the reclining dental chair yet, and we want the parents or guardians to be involved in the especially important first visit.
The knee-to-knee exam doesn’t typically last more than 15 minutes. You can expect the doctor to do a visual examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums to make sure your child’s baby teeth are developing properly and check for signs of tooth decay. At your child’s first pediatric dental checkup, you’ll accompany your little one to the dental chair.
Here’s how we conduct a knee-to-knee exam:
What Can I Expect During a Knee-to-Knee Dental Examination?
The knee-to-knee exam doesn’t typically last more than 15 minutes. You can expect the doctor to do a visual examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums to make sure your child’s baby teeth are developing properly and check for signs of tooth decay. At your child’s first pediatric dental checkup, you’ll accompany your little one to the dental chair.
Here’s how we conduct a knee-to-knee exam:
- You (parent) will sit in the dental chair with your child sitting in your lap facing you while the dentist pulls up a chair.
- The dentist and the parent will sit knee to knee, and you’ll lean the child backwards into their lap.
- The dentist will then conduct the knee-to-knee exam by inspecting their mouth.