First Dentist Appointment?

OkieMama · November 2013

When did/will you take LO for his/her first dentist visit?

OkieMama · November 2013

I voted SS because I want to see everyone's answers!

lnd1031 · November 2013

I just voted SS because I'm an idiot and don't know when they should go, so I wanted to see what the majority vote was.

aylafsu88 · November 2013

Our pedi said not to bother until LO had most of her teeth (say somewhere around 2). We only have 6 teeth so it will be awhile before we go!

Hayden1jl · November 2013

I'm thinking this may vary by region. In Colorado it is standard to go at the first birthday. As in its not really an option the pedis push you out of the office with dentists numbers and ask about it at the 15 month. As for the visit itself he jut looked at his teeth put a sealer on the teeth.

SallySunrise · November 2013

I voted SS because I'll do what I did with Ben- around 3, or sooner if a need arises.

I did just recently discover that Emily has a lip tie on her top lip. How in EARTH I never noticed it before, I have no idea. She even nursed 15mo with NO latch issues! Anyway. Not sure if a pedi takes care if that or a dentist. Maybe even a plastic surgeon? She'll have to have it snipped I think, or her top adult teeth will have the same huge gap that the baby ones do.

christieep · November 2013

Our dentist said not until 3 or 4. He told me that the reason many people read to bring them in earlier is so they can get in front of issues like not brushing (or allowing the child solely to do the brushing) or allowing baby to fall asleep with a bottle. He said unless there is an issue there is no need to go sooner. Like others said, he did suggest bringing him a few times before his first actual appointment to get used to it.

APendola · November 2013

I was going to take her in a couple weeks ago...just because I had a dentist appointment too. DD ended up having the flu, so she stayed home with DH.

My dentist said it's not a rush and that they try to make the first appointment fun so that they don't hate going there. ie. they show them how the chair goes up and down. They said that she should

OkieMama · November 2013

SallySunrise said:
I voted SS because I'll do what I did with Ben- around 3, or sooner if a need arises.

I did just recently discover that Emily has a lip tie on her top lip. How in EARTH I never noticed it before, I have no idea. She even nursed 15mo with NO latch issues! Anyway. Not sure if a pedi takes care if that or a dentist. Maybe even a plastic surgeon? She'll have to have it snipped I think, or her top adult teeth will have the same huge gap that the baby ones do.

I've heard this term but don't know really what it is. If it doesn't create latch issues, is there any harm in leaving it? How can you tell she has it? I'm just curious.

SallySunrise · November 2013

OkieMama said:

SallySunrise said:
I voted SS because I'll do what I did with Ben- around 3, or sooner if a need arises.

I did just recently discover that Emily has a lip tie on her top lip. How in EARTH I never noticed it before, I have no idea. She even nursed 15mo with NO latch issues! Anyway. Not sure if a pedi takes care if that or a dentist. Maybe even a plastic surgeon? She'll have to have it snipped I think, or her top adult teeth will have the same huge gap that the baby ones do.
I've heard this term but don't know really what it is. If it doesn't create latch issues, is there any harm in leaving it? How can you tell she has it? I'm just curious.

In her case, she's got a big ole chunk of skin attaching her top lip to her gums in between her two front teeth. The reason they usually get snipped early on is for breast feeding latch, but the reason I'd want hers snipped is because with that tie there, her permanent teeth will have no chance of growing in that area. They will have a huge gap between them where the lip is attached to the gum. I'll try and get a pic of it later if she'll let me.

Kdoy705 · November 2013

We went last month for her first appointment after her pedi recommended taking her at age 1. She said it is the official rec from the American Academy of Pediatrics. My own personal dentist said to bring her in and get a "ride in the chair", but that she didn't really need to go until age 2 or so.

We had added her on our dental insurance last year, so I figured we might as well get some benefit from paying for the insurance. The appointment was pretty quick, they checked to make sure all the teeth are coming in the right order, and they watched me brush her teeth to see how I was doing and gave her a little fluoride treatment. They said all looked good and to come back in a year!