1St Dental Visit - Fort Stewart,GA

I brought mine at 2. His teeth looked perfect, so they said to bring him back at 3. They looked at his teeth, brushed them, and they usually do a fluoride treatment. (I declined.) The fluoride treatment can depend on the dentist. We did take him to a pediatric dentist. They have a cool office and everything is kid related. My son felt more comfortable. Yes, I went back. The office we go to allows parents no matter the age.

My son is 5 and he went for his first dentist visit this morning. We used a pediatric dentist, and I am glad we did. They are great with the kids and the environment is very kid-friendly. I was allowed back with my child. However, I saw other mothers in the waiting room. I guess it depends on the age of the child.
Results are - great teeth, good brushing, and no cavities!
They keep recommending the first visit be earlier and earlier. I think it's just so they can make some money. When I was a kid, I didn't go to the dentist until I was about 10 years old- this was normal at the time. And I didn't have my first cavity until I was 34 years old!

3 1/2, pediatric dentist. I always pooh-pooh'd the idea of going to the dentist before she even had all her teeth, especially since we were brushing teeth every night, eating healthy, and didn't have much candy. However, they found 4 cavities at her first visit! I was heartbroken. My crazy parents who never let me have any candy had it right. I think getting used to the dentist is a good idea - I would have taken her at age 2 if I had it to do over again. I also highly recommend the pediatric dentist. The office we found here in Austin was SO good. Even getting the four fillings, my daughter thought it was great fun and can't wait to go back. I would never agree to let my daughter go in without me, though. That's ridiculous. I was there for everything and wouldn't have it any other way.

Pediatric dentist all the way. A family dentist did one round of dentistry with kids and then the rest of his practice has been on older kids and adults.

Our pediatric dentist fixes the kids teeth and it stays. My friends family dentist, who does a lot of kids, decided it would be too much work to fill a front tooth so he pulled it when her daughter was just 5....just 5 years old and is just now getting her permanent tooth in, she's almost 8.

A pediatric dentist will often put the kids to sleep to do work so he can do it quickly and without trauma to the kid, and it takes just a few minutes. They go to sleep, wake up ready to go play, have no memory of the procedure, and love to go to the dentist the next time.

Our boy, when he was about 20 months old, went and laughed all the way through his first cleaning. The doc played with him the whole time.

I wish everyone could go to Jason Lee in OKC Oklahoma.

We went at age 2 for both kids and chose to use a pediatric dentist, so it would be "fun" to go to the dentist. My daughter was very good at the dentist from day one. My son did not have as successful visits the first two times with only his teeth being checked but not really cleaned. But, the Dr was still able to look at his teeth, count them, and make sure nothing suspicious was going on. This is the first year I did not go back with my daughter (her choice) and she is 7. I still go back with my son (4) and they are fine with that. There is actually a "parent bench" along the window at the office, so we can sit where our kids can see us.

Our dentist recommended about 3.
The first visit was supposed to be all about showing him the "squirt gun" and the "tickle brush" but my son was doing so well, they did a counting, cleaning & exam that first time.
I am switching him back to our family dentist because I do not like the "no parents allowed rule" just on principle....and family dentist is who we started out with for my son, so I would let him watch my exam & cleaning, then I would watch his.

I would have to say find a dentist, any dentist that you like and go there. We happen to prefer our family dentist over a pediatric. I want my kids to be comfortable with the dentist and be able to stay at that practice for life, where as with a pediatric we would have to switch when they get a little older. Our dentist sees all of us and she is fantastic with kids. Of course we go back and stay with our kids during the visit. They have a TV for the kids to watch and prizes when they leave. My kids love it. We use Dr. Lauren Abes of Dent 1st. They have offices all over the greater Atlanta area. She is a mom of two kids under 6 so I know she gets it!

Definitely choose a pediatric dentist and do NOT go to any dentist that won't allow you back with your child. Absolutely not a good sign. Obviously if your child is older, it's fine, but for young kids, you need to be with them. We waited until our first was almost 3 and she had 3 cavities by then. She had really deep crevices in her molars that made her more susceptible. We'll be taking our 2nd (just turned 1) sooner to hopefully avoid this, but will probably wait a few more months until he finishes cutting his teeth! :-) Pediatric dentists are really great--they are used to working with small children and make it fun and more relaxed.

My son wasn't able to physically sit for a thorough cleaning until the age of 5. The others lasted for about 5 minutes, and then he started freaking out. I think I brought him each year prior, starting at 2. He has sensory issues, and the lights, different people, and sounds would freak him out so bad. At 5, he finally was able to use an ipod to listen to music for the hygienist to clean his teeth. I had to stay in the room with him until he was 6, then he was able to go by himself, and I waited in the waiting room. He goes to a pediatric dentist, a very wonderful, sympathetic one.

My best friend is a dental hygienist, so when she would come for a visit, she would check out my sons mouth as well, just to make sure everything was fine( he knew her, so it was easier)

Some are able and ready then others.

I took my daughter at 3. We went to our family dentist and I went back with her. When you make your appt., ask for a hygienist who is really good with kids. The more comfortable my daughter is with her, she is much more responsive to what they ask her to do. She loves getting her goody bag at the end.

Good luck!

we have a pediatric dentist and mine went first at 4.
I go back with them , they are now 9 and 7

My son went at two. He just had his teeth looked at in the office. We ALWAYS go with him. He now is 4.5 years old and LOVES going. He has an appointment Friday morning and I made the MISTAKE of telling him. NOW that's ALL I hear. "When are we going mom? I want to get my teeth tickled!"

We sit and watch. It's so cute because the chair is SO big and he looks so tiny. His dentist is super young and I think he really likes that.

My daughter is going to the dentist today. She is 4. I will be in the room with her when she gets her cleaning and exam. She goes to our family dentist. If I recall correctly, she had her first appointment at 18 months. The dentist just looked at her teeth, saw that they were healthy, gave her a plastic zebra and sent her on her way. There is no way that cleaning can be done on a child so young. My youngest hasn't been to see the dentist yet. I am going to set up her appointment today when we are there. She didn't get teeth until she was 10 months old so she doesn't have to go until she is 22 months (she is currently 18 months). Our dentist said they should be seen within a year of getting their first tooth unless you suspect issues. I would not go to a dentist who did not allow me or my husband to be in the room (aside from X-rays, of course) with our children for a routine visit/cleaning.

ETA: There is no charge at my dentist's office for him to just look at the baby's teeth. The charges only start once cleaning begins. My daughter has had her teeth cleaned beginning at age 3.

My best friend, who is a pediatrician, recommended going at 4. She had taken one daughter at 3 and the other at 4 and it was such an easier experience with the 4-year old.

I took my son shortly after he turned 4. We went to a pediatric dentist and I recommend that route all the way, though it might be slightly more expensive. There were toys out front and a goody bag after the appointment. He kept asking me when we could go back to the dentist (actually, you've just reminded me that I should take him back in again soon).

Also, I was allowed in the back with him. It went really well.

Several dentists recommended starting at 3.
Lots of reasons why: more teeth in, better able to sit there, better able
to understand what they are doing & comply w/o fear etc.
We go back with our children to be sure they are comfortable plus I don't
know everyone that works there. I don't let my child out of my sight.

DS was almost 3. He went with us to our regular annual appointments.
We went in with him while the family dentist just counted his teeth and used a mirror to look at them.
We'll bring him back next May for another apt where they'll do a little cleaning. That will have been a year from his first apt (whereas DH and I go every 6 mos).

I took my son at 2 because I had a friend who took her daughter at 2 and they found a whole in one of her teeth. If it hadn't been found, she would have gotten a cavity (this wasn't a cavity, her tooth just came in with a hole).
The first visit was fine, he sat in my lap and they counted his teeth and brushed them. The dentist recommended he come back in 6 months because he is a grazer and I have a lot of cavities. I wish I had waited until he was 3. He did not do well during the visit. The hygentist kept telling me it would be better after he turned 3. I truly hope so. It is a pediatric dentist.

My son was 3 - though our pediatric dentist does like to see them earlier. Which answers your next question, I would definitely go to a pediatric dentist. Ours shows movies during the exam and everything is small and kid-friendly. I can't imagine taking my little kids to a dentist that is also set up for adults. And if your dentist doesn't allow you to be in the exam room with your child, find a new dentist! That's absurd!