Dentist?

pattilynn206 · September 2012

When do you or did you take your LO's to the dentist?

Also, thanks for the advice about moving off the bottle...last night I didn't give it and today we are bottle free!! Bittersweet for sure.

BeebopandBuddy · September 2012

I haven't taken her but my dentist said between 2-3 years, when I get the impression that she may be mildly cooperative.

SusieBW · September 2012

delaine0821:
I haven't taken her but my dentist said between 2-3 years, when I get the impression that she may be mildly cooperative.

My dentist said the same thing.

MeginUT · September 2012

Our pediatrician told me to take him in before the age of two, and so I took him in at 18 months. The dentist just sort of looked at his teeth and asked me a lot of questions about habits such as does he go to bed with a bottle, do we brush his teeth at night, do we let him walk around the house all day with a sippy cup full of juice. My sense is that the appointment was more informational about good habits and intervening early if the parent was doing something that could cause problems. Most of what I was told was just a repeat of what I've heard elsewhere, like on these boards. Our pediatrician has told me that she's seen cases where parents put coca cola in a bottle or just give the baby juice in a bottle at night and never brush the baby's teeth, and I think that's why she and the dentist see toddlers at such a young age.

swimiz500 · September 2012

MRoss1982:
SusieBW:

delaine0821:
I haven't taken her but my dentist said between 2-3 years, when I get the impression that she may be mildly cooperative.

My dentist said the same thing.

Yep, here too.

Mine did too, we just asked a few weeks ago.

JuneBug86 · September 2012

We took LO at 1 year, but that was probably a little soon.

lindsey913 · September 2012

The recommendation by both the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) is that children should be seen by 1 yr or 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth. Most general dentists don't see children this young though. The earlier the better even if it is just to get the child familiar with the dental office. Fortunately, pediatricians are doing a better job these days of educating parents about the importance of oral hygiene and establishing a dental home.

Lotsofloveandkids · September 2012

We took DS at 16 months.

JennaNAaron · September 2012

We went at 15 months. They didn't clean his teeth but checked them and did flouride. They will see him again in 6 months but they don't clean teeth until 2.

flhokie · September 2012

I took DD today for the 1st time. She's 19 months. We went to a pediatric dentist which was great! My dentist said they would have recommended doing the pediatric dentist if I had asked them as they would not be equipped for a child that young(I just made the appt based on a recommendation of a fellow mom).

The dentist looked in her mouth--showed me where a molar is errupting (realized why she woke up at 4 this morning). He checked to make sure that we were getting her teeth cleaned ok when brushing. They had me hold her in my lap and put her head on a special pillow. I had to hold her arms. She cried, but they said to console her, but not to worry about her crying (means her mouth is open). As others have said, the rest of the appointment was spent on questions and suggestions.

They said we should come back when she's 3.

On a side note...the waiting room had a space ship model with seats, video and games in it. DD didn't want to leave.

MammaBear81 · September 2012

lindsey913:
The recommendation by both the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) is that children should be seen by 1 yr or 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth. Most general dentists don't see children this young though. The earlier the better even if it is just to get the child familiar with the dental office. Fortunately, pediatricians are doing a better job these days of educating parents about the importance of oral hygiene and establishing a dental home.

This is the official ruling (and it's fine if you want to go by it), but I didn't take my kids until they were 3. At 1 year old it's mostly for the parents (good brushing techniques, getting rid of the bottles, not to give sugary drinks etc).

Since you only go every 6-12 months there are no "healthy habits" being formed, by going to the dentist that early. The child doesn't remember the dentist from 6+ months ago it's like a new event every time until they are 4ish. The healthy habits that stick in their mind are the ones you do daily at home (like brushing teeth).

Just my two cents.

MrsWindyCity · September 2012

We went at 1, per the AAPD/AAP rec (and have been going every 6 mos since). I see no reason not to. We learned things we wouldn't have known, and I think preventive care is important.

KaramelSutra · September 2012

tino has been twice already. he does very well for the dentist

lucylea · September 2012

lindsey913:
The recommendation by both the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) is that children should be seen by 1 yr or 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth. Most general dentists don't see children this young though. The earlier the better even if it is just to get the child familiar with the dental office. Fortunately, pediatricians are doing a better job these days of educating parents about the importance of oral hygiene and establishing a dental home.

All of this. We see an awesome pediatric dentist that DD absolutely loves. She has been going since 9 months and DS had his first appointment at just over a year. They took a look in his mouth, brushed/polished his teeth, and gave me some great info. I have been plagued by horrible teeth my entire life because my parents didn't take me to the dentist until I was in school and definitely didn't teach me good dental hygiene habits at home. I also hate the dentist because I actually knew what was going on that first visit and got myself worked up about it. DD now knows what to expect, but she's been going every six months for so long that its just normal to her.

rnbeth477 · September 2012

lindsey913:
The recommendation by both the AAPD American Academy of Pediatric Dentists and the AAP American Academy of Pediatrics is that children should be seen by 1 yr or 6 months after the eruption of the first tooth. Most general dentists don't see children this young though. The earlier the better even if it is just to get the child familiar with the dental office. Fortunately, pediatricians are doing a better job these days of educating parents about the importance of oral hygiene and establishing a dental home.

This is exactly what our dentist said! We took him at 13 months. They called the visit a "happy visit." The dentist said the purpose is to get them used to going to the dentist early, so when they are 4 with a cavity its not their first time visiting. He just looked at DS's teeth and asked a lot of questions. They had a really cute kids dental room too.

amri24 · September 2012

Our dentist suggested bringing the baby as soon as possible after birth so that he gets used to the place. So far we haven taken him with us twice. I will most probably make an appointment for him at 2 years old.

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