Dr. James Henley recommends getting your child in for a
pediatric dental appointment
when their first tooth starts to come through or before they turn one. Dr. Henley is excellent with children but to make your child more comfortable before their first visit, familiarize them with the dentist by reading children's books such as Curious George Visits the Dentist or Just Going to the Dentist. This will hopefully put them to ease before their first visit.
For a young child receiving their first tooth, the best thing to do is take a soft toothbrush and brush the emerging tooth or teeth with little or no toothpaste. Toothpaste can be harmful to young children, so use caution if you do use toothpaste.