Dental ignorance annoys me

melody921 · December 2013

This was just posted on a mom's FB group I'm part of (not TB-related):

"We do get a second chance for teeth, don't we?"

It was in regards to not thinking she needed to bring her 1-year-old to the dentist. Fine, take your kid when you feel is an appropriate time, whether that's 1 or 3. But don't act like baby teeth are just a starter set and have no impact on the next teeth or overall health.

Hyaline · December 2013

FFFC: I don't think this is that bad. Maybe she was just making light of the ADA suggestion of bringing your kid in at a year, and honestly--I know parents who were basically told "they're just round one teeth" about dental issues with their kids. As in "Yeah, we could try to save that tooth but he's getting a new one in a couple years, so..."

Not that overall dental health isn't important from a young age, but I don't attribute the comment to ignorance as much as I would attribute it to being flippant. I mean, maybe she's an ignoramus. But I don't assume as much from an offhand comment.

Pokedot · December 2013

I'm pretty sure my MIL thought the same thing. My FIL worked for the railroad and they had amazing insurance. DH needs tons of dental work done because she never brought them. Her response was that she hated the dentist (has all false teeth now) and would ask the kids if they wanted to go instead of oh I don't know just bringing them! Their response was always "no" so she didn't bring them. Really?

Holly_1007 · December 2013

I think it's ignorant to assume that your kids can slack off with their dental Heigene with their first set of teeth and then you will magically be able to teach them how to care for their teeth when they are 6 or 7 (is that when teeth start falling out?) I think 1 is early to see the dentist. I brought Colby with me last week to my cleaning and asked the dentist if she would look at him and she said, sure, but there's not really much to see!

MeatballEsq · December 2013

Oops. I didn't know you were supposed to take them in at one either. I would probably make the same joke too. Add me to the ignorant column.

AKB090609 · December 2013

I think there is a huge difference between not taking a one year old to a dentist and not brushing a one year olds teeth. Our doctor and dentist have both told us there is no need to use toothpaste or have a child see a dentist until they have molars. My kid has 4 teeth I'm not going to pay to have a dentist look at them.

melody921 · December 2013

AKB090609 said:

I think there is a huge difference between not taking a one year old to a dentist and not brushing a one year olds teeth. Our doctor and dentist have both told us there is no need to use toothpaste or have a child see a dentist until they have molars. My kid has 4 teeth I'm not going to pay to have a dentist look at them.

Totally agree. But I guess her statement just strikes me as maybe she's not instilling proper dental hygiene across the board bc whatevs, they're just starter teeth.

mb314 · December 2013

Meh.

Both my dentist and my pediatrician said it wasn't necessary to take a 1 year old to the dentist. They both recommended 3 years old.

Stasi · December 2013

My DH took Kate in with him to a cleaning a few weeks ago and said not to bring her in until she had a decent amount of teeth to even look at....she only has 3 right now and only 2 when she turned 1, so what's the point of taking her?

KellersPrag · December 2013

Our dentist wanted to see Charlotte when she got her first tooth, then again at 1 year old.

I don't like that comment either, @melody921. A friend of mine's ex boyfriend has been saying that about their almost 4 year old's teeth to justify giving him soda and chips. Um, no.

hmp1 · December 2013

There are plenty of silver teeth kids running around TN. I would rather them find something earlier than later. I do think that comment could be taken different ways. It would depend on the person if I took it as serious or sarcastic/ trying to lighten the conversation with a joke.

Holly_1007 · December 2013

jlk6 said:

I asked my dental hygienist when to bring Connor in and she said around 3. I might ask again when I go back in a few months. I don't want to bring him with to my cleaning because I'm not sure what I would do with him while they are cleaning my teeth, I can't imagine him behaving the whole time.

I highly suggest scheduling back to back appointments for you and your dh, that way one of you can be with ds while the other is getting a cleaning. I actually wasn't planning on bringing Colby with me but my dh got stuck at work. It was keagans first appointment, so I had them both with me. Colby flipped out the entire time. I had him contained to a stroller and he wasn't happy. I usually baby wear so the stroller wasn't a comfortable thing for him. Fortunately a few of the other hygienists didn't have appointments and took turns entertaining the kids. I will never do it solo again though.

misspunky · December 2013

My kid has all 8 front teeth and 2 bottom molars and her dr has said nothing about taking her to get her teeth checked. I do try to brush them at LEAST once a day. She absolutely hates it thought.

miss50 · December 2013

Our doc suggested going in now. she noted it in the follow up section with **important**. I wouldn't think it would be that important, but getting kids use to going to the dentist couldn't hurt. Hell grown men/women hate going to the dentist.

melody921 · December 2013

PinkLily1234 said:

If you have a pediatric dentist in your area I strongly suggest going that route rather than bringing the littles along to your appointment. I just took my 3 year old for the first time and was scolded by our pedi for not taking the 14 month old yet... umm what? Same pedi told me not to take my older one until she was 3. I don't really care if you go at one or three.

Anyway, just wanted to throw it out there that the pediatric office is much less intimidating. My three year old was afraid of the big chair so the dentist said no problem and pulled out this foam couch thing that went over her lap and my lap and we just sat knee to knee with the child on my lap laying back into the dentists lap if that makes sense. They also had TVs on the ceiling, stuffed animals with teeth to demonstrate what they were going to do and little stuff that makes a difference with kids.

I made an appointment for my little one to go in 6 months when my older one is due to be seen again. Our dental insurance is the same price for 1 or 10 kids so the baby is on insurance anyway. If she wasn't on our insurance for free I would probably wait until 3.

Yeah, we use a pediatric dentist too. The entire office is kid-friendly, and for DD, I hold her on my lap while they examine her teeth.

JulesDiane · December 2013

My pediatrician recommends to take them when you think they will cooperate. 2.5 or 3. I took DD1 at 1 only because she had chipped her front tooth in the bathtub and I was worried about more damage.

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