Dentist?!

I found it helpful to prepare my son for a trip to the dentist when he was about your son's age. I brought him with me when I was having a teeth cleaning, so he could see that it was easy and painless. Then, it was his turn and the dentist was very patient and didn't force him to do anything he didn't want to do. It went quite well and he has continued to come along w/ me for my teeth cleaning/check-ups.

I was watching "The View" in Dec and they had Joan Lunden from Good Morning America on and she now works with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Oral-B Stages and I learned some good info - (I copied some of it below)

Parents can take the first step in their children's oral health by
doing the following:

-- Begin oral care routine early - Parents should begin by regularly
cleaning their newborn baby's gums with a damp washcloth following
feedings. When the first teeth appear, parents should begin brushing
them to avoid the build-up of plaque. Avoid prolonged exposure to
sugary drinks (milk, formula, juices, etc.) while the baby sleeps, as
it can increase the risk of decay in the upper front teeth, also known
as Early Childhood Caries.

-- Selecting the right tools - Use a toothbrush with extra-soft bristles
and a cushioned head, plus a non-fluoridated toothpaste until age two,
when it's safe to switch to toothpaste with fluoride. Choose products
that are designed to meet children's needs at different ages such as
dentition (formation of their teeth and jaw), dexterity (ability to
handle a toothbrush) and development (emotional changes and interest).

-- Visit the dentist regularly - A child's dental visit should begin when
the child's first tooth erupts, with additional visits determined by
the dentist to ensure proper oral development. A good rule of thumb is
first visit by first birthday. Parents should discuss their children's
oral health with the pediatrician even before the first dental visit.

-- Take first steps to healthy eating - Proper nutrition is important to
your child's oral health. Foods high in sugars and starches help
decay-causing bacteria make acid that destroys teeth. Choose
nutritious snacks that build strong teeth and resist decay and gum
disease such as veggies, fruit, yogurt and cheese.

-- Make brushing fun - Brush your teeth together to set a good example.
Choose toothbrushes and toothpaste with popular kids' characters. Sing
a two-minute song to your child to encourage brushing for the dentist
recommended time. Making the brushing routine fun will encourage
proper habits early and help prevent oral care issues later in life.

Parents and children can learn more oral-care tips by visiting
http://www.oralb.com/kids or http://www.aap.org .

Hope this helps!

I think the recommendation for a first visit varies by dentist. I have a friend whose dentist wants to see children for their first checkup at 12 months! Our family dentist doesn't think it's necessary to start seeing kids until about age 3 1/2. Ask your family dentist or your pediatrician.

Hi A., Congratulations on becoming US Citizens. How exciting. I've been going to my dentist for over 12 yrs and recommend her to all my friends and family. She's great. I now have 2 young children (ages 4 yrs and 19 mos.) and for both kids have been told by her to bring them in for their first checkup at least by 18 mos. I just took my 19 mo. old for her first check up last week. It's a really basic checkup with no xrays needed. Just a quick glance at the teeth and a quick cleaning. My 19 mo. old sat on my lap while they did the cleaning and we were done within 5 minutes. Look for a dentist that works with kids because that is really important. Good luck to you.

Our Dentist Dr. Richardson (corona) see's them as babies. Myself and my husband were not taken young and both hate the dentist. We have taken all our daughters as young as he would see them and they have no fear of the dentist, they have gotten many teeth pulled out and appliances put in hard stuff for a child (and excellent check ups) and still like going to the dentist and I feel it was because it was done before they actually needed to really get things done so by the time work actually had to be done it was normal to them and they were friedly with all the workers. The office must also be very kid friendly and always make sure the child is comfortable and I think low turn over is a plus because the same people have been working on my kids for all these years and if one happened to leave for what ever reasons the rest are still familiar until the new one because familiar. As babies they sit on your lap facing you and the dentist knees are up to your knees and the baby puts their head on the dentist laps he just checks their teeth or gums because you are still holding them it is not as scary, that is harder to do with an older child. By the time they have to be in a chair alone and do x-rays and cleanings and fillings it is a normal situation and if the staff is great they make it easy on the children. Good Luck.

There are different words of wisdom on this. Pediatric dentists tell you that you should be under their care as soon as your child has teeth. Other dentists tell you 2.5 yo and insurance carriers say three. I think it depends on your child's temperment. My first child went at 2.5 yo and loved every aspect of the dentist. My second one went at the same age and screamed the entire time. It was miserable. After we moved here I tried to take my third one at 2.5 and the dentist wouldn't see her and told me to come back at three when my insurance covered the appointment. From a maturity standpoint, I'd wait until three. Unless you see spots of calculus or black marks on his teeth, wait until he's a little older. Have you tried flossing too? The reason I ask this is that no amount of brushing or teeth seals kept away cavities BETWEEN my daughter's teeth. The only way to repel that is flossing, which isn't fun on a toddler. This has been my experience. Good Luck.