BTDT- dentist?

notaffected1

Charlie's 3rd tooth popped through yesterday, and it got me thinking... When do I take him to the dentist for the first time?

I tried to search to see if this was posted before but nothing came up.

[Deleted User]

Good question. I feel like I have ages before my LO is going to get any teeth. The pediatrician said today that his gums aren't swollen and it'll be a while still. My kids going to be 3 and toothless!

bobcee

Our dentist told us as soon as they got a tooth when we had DD. That seemed a bit ridiculous to me. Pedi recommended about age 2.

I may not be the best person to ask though, because two came and went and now at 3 DD still hasn't gone. I keep meaning to make an appt, but can't decide where to take her and it always falls off my radar, so thanks for reminding me.

I think they like starting young to get the kid comfortable with the dentist, opening their mouth, examining them etc....

NKF312

I've read as soon as they get teeth ( DD has 6!) but I asked my pedi, and he said not until 2 y/o at the earliest, unless he notices anything of concern at her check ups.

notaffected1

Ok I was thinking between 2 & 3... I couldn't even imagine taking him right now!

ceechie

My dentist recommends 2-3 yo.

notaffected1

Asbromle said:

Good question. I feel like I have ages before my LO is going to get any teeth. The pediatrician said today that his gums aren't swollen and it'll be a while still. My kids going to be 3 and toothless!

Our pedi said Monday that we should see "several teeth soon"

Ugh. Teething sucks. Toothless would be fine with me lol

karen0477

Yep, 2-3. Both my kids went for the first time about 3....

[Deleted User]

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lancomechica

Asbromle said:

Good question. I feel like I have ages before my LO is going to get any teeth. The pediatrician said today that his gums aren't swollen and it'll be a while still. My kids going to be 3 and toothless!

Us too.

mittensonkittens

Pediatric dentists say 12 months, or when they get teeth. Adult dentists say 3 years because kids don't really cooperate before that. I was frustrated by the lack of consensus on the issue, and ended up waiting until my older kids were 3 to take them in. Before that we made sure to brush their teeth in the morning and at bedtime, and floss between any teeth that touch.

redhead610

I asked my dentist when I was there, and he said 2 yrs, with the exception of if you see any problems or if they turn black (?! I would hope people have the sense to go if their kid's teeth turn black!)

blairwitch

Nikita went for the first time the week of her 6th birthday.  And I know there are kids in her class that still havent gone.  Dentist didnt seem to concerned that she hadnt been in sooner.  All was good...aside from the impending orthodontics she may need

fabk

The public health unit here says before their first birthday. We will take him in Sept when we go ourselves.

thewif85

redhead610 said:

I asked my dentist when I was there, and he said 2 yrs, with the exception of if you see any problems or if they turn black (?! I would hope people have the sense to go if their kid's teeth turn black!)

This is what my dentist said as well. She said it may even be later than 2 years, depending on their attitude, attention, etc. 

sparkymcgeee

My dentist said right at their third birthday. We took Eliza a few weeks ago and she would not cooperate. He was totally fine with us trying again later. He said as long as you're brushing and taking care of the teeth then it's not a big deal. Just if something happens. We are going to try again when Dh and are due for a cleaning in late June.

karen0477

My son still has trouble with cleaning at 7 and a half due to his horrible gag reflex. He just had to have laughing gas to get his 6 year molars sealed....poor hygienists!!

PrimRoseMama

We tried to take DD but she morphed into a banshee on fire. It took all the techs to just attempt to look at her mouth. Nightmare! She is easier at the doctor.

DenverBride2005

We take DS1 to a pediatric dentist and took him for his first appt just before his 2nd birthday, I think?  He's got an appt coming up in mid-May and it will be his third trip, so I think his first time was about a year ago.  They mostly just examine, count to see how many/which teeth they have, and they did do a cleaning on his last visit.

[Deleted User]

@somerandomchick‌ my LO let the eye doctor do whatever, it was strange. The optometrist told me "he's such a serious baby" I didn't know how to respond... so I just smiled

martyn17

My pedi told me that this is actually topic of debate within the pediatric community, with recommendations ranging from appearance of first tooth to around age 2 1/2. I think we will go sometime around age 2.

MyLittleSweetPea

Our dentist recommended 3.  It was a nightmare.  Went yesterday at 3 1/2 and it was soooo much better.  I wondered if we had gone younger if he would have been more comfortable at 3, but who knows he was a clingy monster once DS #2 arrived (I mean he suffered a slight attachment issue:))

jegoffin

redhead610 said:

I asked my dentist when I was there, and he said 2 yrs, with the exception of if you see any problems or if they turn black (?! I would hope people have the sense to go if their kid's teeth turn black!)

You'd be surprised....I sent a 15 year old for 5 root canals last week

notaffected1

We did an eye exam last month. He did pretty well actually. He said bring him back at 4 years old unless we suspect issues.

sparkymcgeee

Fayga said:

Our pedi 2 but by then you should already be flossing those little chicklets. DS first went at 2.

Do what? Floss?! I can't even get Noodles to let me look at her teeth how in the ever loving hell am I gonna floss her teeth!?

I asked the dentist how was I supposed to floss our 3 year olds teeth and he said to get those little floss sticks. 

Like these things. 

bobcee

Meimsx said:

Fayga said:

Our pedi 2 but by then you should already be flossing those little chicklets. DS first went at 2.

Do what? Floss?! I can't even get Noodles to let me look at her teeth how in the ever loving hell am I gonna floss her teeth!?

I asked the dentist how was I supposed to floss our 3 year olds teeth and he said to get those little floss sticks. 

Like these things. 

Yep, my daughter loves those things for some reason and will let us use them on her and even tries to do it herself now. 

jeng100

I asked my dentist the last time I was there. She said between 2 and 3 years.