When did you take LO to the dentist for the first time?

Mnerani · March 2014

I'll ask my pedi this too, but when did you start with dentist visits?

Ruthie04 · March 2014

We have only been to an "emergency" dental visit, but at the time my family dentist said 2.5. She did note that the ADA says by 2, but that she has a two year old and much prefers parents wait a bit so the child will be a little more compliant and still (poor thing probably just doesn't want to be bitten!!). But, I'm a rule follower and FIL is a dental prof, so we will probably go around their 2nd bday.

mcgeeva · March 2014

My dentist told me to bring DS in when he was 3. So that is what we will be doing but we are definitely sticking to brushing twice a day now.

ccam · March 2014

Our pedi recommended we make an appointment soon since DS is pretty good for Dr appointments. DS is 18 months old. A friend of mine just brought her daughter for the first time and that dentist recommended starting at a year... yeah right!!

Mrs.AmyDylan · March 2014

I took J last week at 14mo. It was just an exam and fluoride painted on her teeth. They said it is just annual for a few more years.

Aliki · March 2014

Almost all pediatric dentists recommend a visit as early as 1 year old, 6 months if your insurance covers it.

My pedi said "as soon as your insurance will cover them". For me, our insurance covered dental at 1 year, so we brought LO in at 1 year, and have done so every 6 months since then.

They say it's important to go in, even if it's just baby teeth, or they dont have teeth, because there is a lot that a pedi dentist can check for. Gum development, brushing habits, bite, etc. It's also good for LO to get experience and comfortable with their pedi dentist early on.

CarrieB. · March 2014

My dentist said we can bring her in at 3 to count teeth and talk about the right way to brush. I did bring her in last year when she knocked out a tooth and they were nice enough to give her an exam for free since I hadn't added her to our insurance yet.

mnj05 · March 2014

My pedi wants one by age 2. We brush H's teeth and he thinks it's fun! I've got to remember to get him on our dental insurance next time enrollment comes around.

Ironmom2be · March 2014

I was just reading about this and the article said before 1st birthday. I was surprised, I'm going to look and see what our insurance covers. Thanks for posting this!

imoverit · March 2014

Ive heard 3 and when I just saw my pedi she said now would be good. DS is 2 1/2.

pb_bride · March 2014

I took m in when he was 16 months. I know about the recommendation (6m after 1st tooth or @ 1 yr), but would have waited longer if M didn't have stains on his teeth. He has some black stains on his teeth so I wanted to have them checked out. The dentist says we should go back every 6 months, and to brush twice a day.

Mnerani · March 2014

Thanks ladies. There is such variation around what we've all been told- interesting.

Robeano · March 2014

We were told around 1 as well. But in my city we have a program where you can take little kids to a safe dentist office and they are allowed to play on the chairs, look at the instruments etc. It gets them comfortable with the dentist office.

Mnerani · March 2014

Robeano that is really cool!

I can just imagine suggesting a similar scenario to a dentist in Kenya. They'd probably give me an incredulous smile or say something gentle like "Americans have something for everything." Ha, I hear that about once a week.

mcgeeva · March 2014

I'm so shocked how young your dentist are taking your babies!! How do they get them to open their mouths!?

Aliki · March 2014

mcgeeva said:

I'm so shocked how young your dentist are taking your babies!! How do they get them to open their mouths!?

Pediatric dentists spend 2 - 3 additional years training. I highly recommend you bring your LO to a pediatric dentist and not your regular dentist. Regular dentists frequently recommend 3 - 4 years old because they dont know how to handle younger patients, but a pediatric dentist recommends starting at 1 year old (or 6 months after emergence of first tooth).

Pediatric dentists are trained to deal with young ones. You will be surprised!

BabyKsMommy · March 2014

I have been feeling really guilty about not having taken DS yet, he is 2 1/2. I made an appt for him in Nov but the dentist had to cancel and I never rescheduled.

I actually just rescheduled for next week. After reading the different answers I'm not feeling that guilty anymore.

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