have you taken your toddler to a dentist?

somethingchangd · June 2011

I just booked a dentist appointment for Ollie and I can't imagine how it can go any other way than badly. He's not a huge fan of the doctor right now and requires many tricks and coercion to let me brush his teeth. Combine the 2 and I'm guessing DISASTER! But he's got something weird going on with his teeth and we just can't put it off.

So, if you've done it - did you all survive? Do pediatric dentists use magic or something to make the experience not awful? Any tips to make it easier on him? (And FTR, I hate hate hate the dentist, so I'm sure that's not helping. I definitely won't let that on to him, though.)

schmoodle · June 2011

Not yet but I know we need to. Toodle is actually great at the pedi/ENT (he's gone so often that I think he just considers it yet another place we go sometimes rather than the site of any trauma) but he also hates teethbrushing unless he's sucking the toothpaste off his toothbrush, so not looking forward to it. Good luck and keep us posted how it goes!

JustaKidAtHeart · June 2011

We have been twice with the boys. Our next appointment is just after baby #3 gets here. The dentist we go to (My Kids Dental) has a play room in the front. Then when you get to the back they take your picture and take pictures of the kids teeth. The people act goofy. When you get to your room they have TVs in the celing and put on a kids movie. My boys have no issues. Last time they even let the dentist clean their teeth. When we leave they get a goodie bag, a balloon and a token to get a prize.

Talk it up. Stay relaxed yourself. They are use to kids acting up. You can not make a scene they havent seen before.

Courted · June 2011

We did it and it was fine. He just counted Nico's teeth and brushed them. It was just a beginner's appt in order to try to get him used to sitting in the chair and having someone dig around in his mouth.

futrkingsley · June 2011

I have taken my son to the dentist. I have terrible teeth, and am neurotic that he not live the rest of his life with bad teeth. So once he could sit up, he went with us to our visits and sat in our lap to get used to the office. Then I had them look at a spot on his tooth when he was about 15 months when we were there for my visit.

His first visit for him was just before his second birthday. He sat in the big chair, opened wide, let them count his teeth, let them polish, and rinse. He even flossed. Then he picked a toothbrush and went home.

HIs second visit was similar, except they did some cleaning. And his third, last week, was the same.

I am a total biatch about brushing twice a day, and he tries to floss occassionally. Sometimes we play dentist at home so he can practice.

It does not have to be bad. Really. It's not scary or bad, it's just a part of the things you do to care for your body and stay healthy.

KYRN · June 2011

I did 2 months before his 2nd birthday. He broke his front tooth and we wanted it checked. He got a dr kit for xmas that had a dentist mirror we used that to practice a lot. We also use the play thermometer and shot to "touch his teeth". I just gently tap each tooth and let him do the same to me. The dentist was amazed at how great he did. He said he normally wouldn't offer to fix his tooth until closer to age 3 but since he thought DS would do well he'd fix it any time. I really think it was because of the practice.

Ali212 · June 2011

Wow - we first took my daughter at 18 months so she's now been 4 times. I will say it's progressively gotten easier / better. My daughter is pretty shy in new situations and basically clams up. Our pediatric dentist was super nice and explained everything he was doing and really just counted her teeth and then brushed them with a flavored paste. She was definitely a little nervous and she was holding my hand the whole time. I sat on the chair with her so I was right near her....it's crazy how little she looked in the dentist chair and I think it was even a kids' one.

After the first visit, she warmed up a bit for future ones b/c she had a better idea of what to expect. GL! It's not that bad.

June24Bride · June 2011

Nope

jenber77 · June 2011

Good luck! I'm taking Andrew for his first visit next week. I have to pin him down to brush his teeth while he fights and cries, so, yeah, I can't imagine how this is going to go. But the dentist said she'll blow bubbles and put the chair up and down, and if they get a look at his teeth, that's great. I guess???

Let us know how it goes!

Germanwife2b · June 2011

Patrick has been three times already. We have gone to two different pediatric dentists and it has been great! We talked it up beforehand that the dentist was going to count his teeth and tickle them. Both places we went to had tv's on the ceiling, so that has sucked him in both times. The second place offered stickers and when I spied that they had Thomas stickers, I told him that I bet if he was super still, the dentist would give him TWO of them :-) The dentist reluctantly gave him two (must have been way out of her comfort zone to reward perfect behavior) and Patrick did great! I think the sooner you start the less they are scared. But that is my own opinion.

Good luck!

somethingchangd · June 2011

Thanks, guys. I'm definitely talking about where we're going, what's going to happen, etc. We watched Caillou go to the dentist about 60 times today (and will continue until the appointment on Friday) and I'm going to look for a dentist book, too. He's very shy and clingy, so I'm afraid he won't even sit in the chair, muchless open his mouth. I guess time will tell!

I'm trying really really really hard not to project my dentist fears onto this, but I think I probably need to try harder, based on your responses. On the plus side, I have a really good rec. for a pediatric dentist, so we have that going for us. I just worry that he's inherited his daddy's (very british) teeth. I fear we have a long road ahead of us with dental care and it's just beginning. He seems to have teeth that stain CRAZY easily and I'm freaking out. Ugh.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your experiences. I'll let you know how it goes on Friday!

Sharra711 · June 2011

DD goes after 7/1 when her insurance kicks in (DH forgot to add her last year).

I'm terrified Tongue Tied

She has what I'm assuming are cavities on her front teeth, near the gumline. She doesn't like me brushing her teeth much, even though we have been doing it forever, I'm guessing that those spots on her teeth hurt now.

I know that all dentists will take small kids, but I'm going out of my way to take her to a pedi-dentist, it seems to make more sence with TVs and goofy staff, ect.

LucyPevensie · June 2011

Not yet - and no plans to until Jack's 3 years old.

crystalgirl · June 2011

DS1 has been going since he was 11 months old -- every six months. So he just recently had his 5th appointment. His upper front teeth look like they have brown stains on them, which are actually evidence that his teeth did not calcify properly in the womb. This means his teeth require extra diligence with brushing. At his most recent appointment, he had his first real cleaning! They used a little zebra-shaped polisher. At previous appointments they just looked at his teeth, brushed them thoroughly, and applied a protective coating (can't remember what it's called right now for some reason...argh). I'm not sure if the last part is typical or just because of his weak baby teeth.

Not sure what I'd expect with taking him for the first time at this age. He cried the first couple times (though not badly), but now he's a total pro...

Good luck! Hopefully your dentist will have him mesmerized enough that he just takes it all in stride.

igh0318 · June 2011

T will go for the 1st time next month. I have no clue how they will get him to cooperate. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Dochas · June 2011

We just had a pediatric dentist talk to a group I belong too. I think it's completely common to have to pin them down, so I don't think you're in for a worse visit than most. Things he told us - don't make a big deal out of it. Say "we're going to the dentist" period. No long drawn out explanations. And do not tell them "it won't hurt" as the thought may not even have occurred to them. Definitely go to someone who specializes in children. He said kids should go by their first birthday. My dentist said 2.5. So I'm thinking 18 months.

For the brushing - he said do the same thing you would do with anything else that isn't optional. Pin them down and get it done.

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