Dentist Visit?

wilsontl19191 · November 2012

I have read I should take P to the dentist by his first birthday, however, by pedi says not until 2 or 3? Another mom in his Gymboree class looked at me like I have 5 heads when I mentioned taking him to the dentist. I have an appt for him next week, but I am curious to know your thoughts. Yay or nay? If you have taken LO to the dentist, what can I expect?

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, I keep forgetting to ask!

Fianschneid · November 2012

Our pedi recommended waiting until DD is two or three. There's no way she'd sit sill through an appointment, anyway. We are supposed to brush her teeth every day with water.

LCass · November 2012

From what I understand, except in extreme cases (y'know, the kids who are drinking Coke and sh!t in their bottles starting at 6 months and therefore have cavities in their brand new itty bitty teeth) the first dentist visit is just to get the kid used to the routine of going to the dentist: sitting in the chair, not biting, the dentist isn't scary, etc. I think that this is too early to actually get that kind of benefit out of the visit. I was told to take her in around her second birthday, and that's our plan.

Ariana2O11 · November 2012

my pedi at his 1 year checkup said around 18 months.

KrisM86 · November 2012

My pedi recommended taking her between 2 and 3 years old, so that's what we'll do. She only has 4 teeth anyway and we brush them every day.

CMonkey515 · November 2012

The AAP and the AAPD both recommend the first visit be at age one. That being saud DS is just now getting his first tooth so we didn't discuss it with his pedi at his one year visit. We will probably wait and make a dentist appt for when he is 18 months.

mars37810 · November 2012

I asked my dentist at my last cleaning since I saw a pamphlet in the waiting room that mentioned bringing them to a dentist around their 1st birthday. He said he typically doesn't see kids till they are around 3 for an actual visit but he does recommend bringing them with you around 2 so that they can get used to the dentist. After your cleaning he will ask the kid if they would like to sit in the chair and will let them pick a prize if they do. He said he will ask them if they will let him look in their mouth, count their teeth, etc until they say no. The next visit he will start all over.

Scramblersmom · November 2012

CMonkey515:
The AAP and the AAPD both recommend the first visit be at age one. That being saud DS is just now getting his first tooth so we didn't discuss it with his pedi at his one year visit. We will probably wait and make a dentist appt for when he is 18 months.

We keep seeing ads on the TV that they are supposed to go see the dentist by age 1 or when their first tooth comes in. I can not imagine DS letting a dentist even look at his teeth! I keep thinking that I need to make him a dentist appointment but on the other hand I am thinking that it would be ridiculous. Glad to know that most of you are waiting.

CMonkey515 · November 2012

smit5009:
CMonkey515:
The AAP and the AAPD both recommend the first visit be at age one. That being saud DS is just now getting his first tooth so we didn't discuss it with his pedi at his one year visit. We will probably wait and make a dentist appt for when he is 18 months.
We keep seeing ads on the TV that they are supposed to go see the dentist by age 1 or when their first tooth comes in. I can not imagine DS letting a dentist even look at his teeth! I keep thinking that I need to make him a dentist appointment but on the other hand I am thinking that it would be ridiculous. Glad to know that most of you are waiting.

Yeah I can't imagine him cooperating at all. It's impossible for me to even get a glimpse of the one tooth he has coming in now because he freaks if we even go near his mouth. We'll definitely give it a shot in 6 months or so if the dentist will schedule him that young, but I don't have high hopes for a good appointment.

wilsontl19191 · November 2012

I'm happy to see most of you are waiting. I think it would be best for us to do the same. Open enrollment for dental at my job isn't until December for him to be covered in March, so I think we will just wait until then. Thanks ladies!

EloiseWeenieSkipperdee · November 2012

I love oral care, but I couldn't imagine taking Amelia to the dentist at 1 with her 1 tooth. It seems ridiculous. If there was a problem, obviously not ridiculous.

I still haven't taken my 3 year old. We brush his teeth (and he brushes them after we do it for him), but I plan on taking him at 4. I asked my dentist, and they advised not to take him before 3. I'm hoping by 4 he'll be able to keep his mouth open for a few minutes. He's just now getting really good about doing what the Dr tells him for his check ups. At 3, he didn't seem ready to be able to handle the dentist well.