Dentist?

CavColby1 · June 2013

When did/will your LO see a dentist? Did it go well?

My pedi. recommended 2 years but I took him today at 15 months. I'm glad I did... he has 2 bottom teeth missing and his teeth needed to be cleaned better than what I can do on my own. He screamed, but they are much whiter now.

The reason I ask this is because my friend said their doctor said to go when their first tooth falls out.

I'm not trying to create a debate, but just wondering what everyone is doing. Thanks!

TiffanyBerry · June 2013

I'd heard all kinds of things. My doc said usually 3, but 2 is fine too. I did 2, partially because there is a lot of dental trouble on DH's side of the family. t was a disaster and we did not go back to the same dentist. We went again this year (just after she turned 3) and it went much better - she could talk with the people better and was not too shy to interact with them as long as I was there.

Good luck learning how to get his teeth cleaner - you will get there! (If it helps, I have my daughter watch my iPad while I brush her teeth. She's engrossed, and I can get in and do what I need brushing and flossing.)

eyenigh · June 2013

Kimbus22:
I asked my dentist this morning actually. He said they don't need to see him until he's 3 unless I suspect there is a problem.

Yup. My dentist said, even if there is a problem, unless it's major and can't wait, they usually still prefer to wait until they're around 3 since it's just easier to work with the kid when there's better communication.

mben1119 · June 2013

Our pediatrican hasn't brought it up yet, and my dentist says 3.

Netty_3 · June 2013

Kimbus22:
I asked my dentist this morning actually. He said they don't need to see him until he's 3 unless I suspect there is a problem.

Our's said this as well...they may be able to follow directions better at 3 and not bite the dentist.

Mustardseed2007 · June 2013

My pedi recommended a pediatric dentist at 12 months - she said that is what the latest recommendation is. But, FWIW, she said it like it wasn't the hugest deal in the world if we went or not. We did go and it went...ok.

He screamed, they held him down and brushed and treated his teeth, then he got a sticker and a tooth brush which perked him right up. I think that's the normal way it goes when you take a 12 month old to the dentist.

I'm not rushing back, though he's now 18 months so the pediatric dentist had said to bring him back at this point (you know, every 6 months). I'm about to go to a new dentist myself so I thought I'd see what he says and see what he thought about it. Part of it is that I'm not 100% sure I would use that pediatric dentist again. She didn't do anything wrong, but her staff had a hard time figuring out our insurance and got really snippy.

MrsJetSet · June 2013

Our dentist recommends one year. It was basically just to start her getting accustomed to the office. She got to play with the water and air spray. The dentist just peeked in her mouth while she sat on my lap. Basically she just told me what to expect next and said everything looks ok. She didn't charge for the visit even though dd is already covered. Our next visit is 2yo unless we have problems we want checked out.

LatteLady5 · June 2013

We took DD around 18 months I believe. I have no idea what the recommendation is but a friend didn't take her daughter until she turned 3 and the kid had like 10 cavities. DH had an ortho apt out of town and since the pediatric dentist is in the same town I went ahead and scheduled it.

DD had JUST fallen asleep right before her apt so we had to wake her up ten minutes into the nap. She did really well except screamed when the dentist looked in her mouth. The dentist actually said it's easier to see in the LO's mouths when the scream haha.

DD sat on my lap facing me and we just leaned her backwards. She got some cheap, squeaky fish for a prize and loved it. We don't need to go back for a year.

jmugirl38 · June 2013

Did they give you any suggestions on how to keep their teeth clean? I have the hardest time with my 14 mo old DD! Any tricks???

Our pedi suggested 2 or even 3 years old unless issues...tartar is our issue now! LOL

luvmyducks · June 2013

Our Pedi said mot to go until she is 3.

diana.filipi · June 2013

DD went at 16 months and DS went at 13 months. This next kiddo will go at the soonest appointment after 12 months that his siblings are scheduled for.

diana.filipi · June 2013

I can't tell you how many friends waited to go 'till 3 and then had multiple cavities that needed to be filled. That often requires sedation for a 3 year old. Hard, tough appointments and my mama friends have regretted it. Obviously that's not always the case but I know a LOT of parents that have had it be so.

Current pediatric dentist recommendations are 1st appointment by 1st year.

https://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_InfantOralHealthCare.pdf

and

https://www.aapd.org/assets/2/7/GetItDoneInYearOne.pdf

?Get It Done In Year One?

Dental Care is Crucial During the First Year of Life

?

Proper care for baby teeth is imperative as they serve several critical functions, including:

o

Fostering good nutrition by permitting proper chewing

o

Aiding speech development

o

Helping proper development of permanent teeth by saving space for them

?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA) and the American

Academy of Pediatrics all recommend a dental visit for children by age one.

?

Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six

and 12 months.

?

The associative pain of tooth decay can prevent a child from eating correctly, impacting overall health and

development. Additionally, undetected and untreated tooth decay can lead to infection, loss of teeth and

expensive and mostly preventable emergency and restorative interventions.

?

A scientific paper in the journal

Pediatric Dentistry

revealed that children who wait to have their first dental visit

until age two or three are more likely to require restorative and emergency visits.

Benefits of the Year One Dental Visit

?

1 + 1 = ZERO.

ONE dental visit when there?s ONE tooth can equal ZERO cavities.

?

Visiting a pediatric dentist by the time the first baby tooth appears enables the child to begin a lifelong preventive

dental care program to minimize tooth decay and cavities.

?

Pediatric dentists can detect early tooth decay, provide parents

with information on proper oral and facial

development, determine fluoride needs and more.

?

The year one dental visit can actually

save

money. A study in the journal

Pediatrics

showed that children who

have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children

who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral

health.

Recommended At-home Dental Care During Year One

Even before baby teeth appear, infants need proper oral care and fluoride supplements to help developing teeth grow

strong and avoid early childhood caries.

?

Parents should clean infant mouths and gums regularly

with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water.

?

Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough

fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent.

?

Infants and young children have other unique caries-risk factors including development of dietary habits and

childhood food preferences. Breast-feeding at will should be avoided after the first primary tooth begins to erupt

and other dietary carbohydrates are introduced.

?

Parents should be encouraged to have infants drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Infants

should be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of age.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry ? 211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1700 ? Chicago, IL 60611-2637 ? (312) 337-2169 ? www.aapd.org

July 28, 2010

?

Baby teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with an aged-appropriate sized toothbrush using a ?smear? of

fluoridated toothpaste.

DawnLilly · June 2013

DS just had his 1 year pediatric appt. yesterday. He flipped out more when the pedi was poking around his mouth then he did when he got the shots. He has 8 incisors, one molar, 2 eye teeth and 3 more molars are cutting right now. He's a joy to be around. We will go when he has the 22 primary teeth.

I let him chew and play with one brush while I use tooth paste on another to get in there and brush well.

tbmadeamistake · June 2013

I literally asked my dentist this last night when I went in for my own cleaning! She said they really can't do anything until 3 or so. Around her third birthday, she'll come to one our appts so she can see what happens and get comfortable with the space/people. Then we'll start having her go for her own appts. If she needs something sooner, we'll address it when we get there.

CavColby1 · June 2013

jmugirl38:
Did they give you any suggestions on how to keep their teeth clean? I have the hardest time with my 14 mo old DD! Any tricks???
Our pedi suggested 2 or even 3 years old unless issues...tartar is our issue now! LOL

The pediatric dentist (who is also a physician) showed us some awesome tricks to brush DS's teeth. We tried one of the positions tonight and it worked wonders!!! He also said no juice, all water and milk and to try to wean DS from breastfeeding because bm is sweet and sticky. Move the toothbrush in little circles around the teeth and gums.

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Dentist?

Re: Dentist?

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12

CHC arrived 6/2/14

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