Position the child in the caregiver's lap facing the caregiver.
Sit with knees touching the knees of caregiver.
Lower the child's head onto your lap.
Lift the lip to inspect the teeth and soft tissue.
A dental chair is not needed to perform an oral examination. For infants and children younger than 3 years, place the child in the caregiver’s lap facing the caregiver. The provider and parent should sit face to face with knees touching. The child should then lie back (with the child’s legs around the caregiver’s waist), laying his or her head in the provider’s lap with the head nestled in the provider’s abdomen, as is illustrated on the current slide.
An alternative position is to have the parent nestle the child in the crook of the caregiver’s arm, held securely against his or her chest, while the provider examines the child’s mouth.
By age 3 years children are able to lie on an examination table or sit on the lap of the caregiver (with child and caregiver facing the provider) so that the caregiver can steady the child.
