Do you go to the dentist every year and/or take your kids every year? How old were your kids when you started? And, do they always find something wrong?! Sometimes it seems to be the case!
Just curious what others do. Most of my kids are little (three are age of 4 yrs or younger, my oldest is 8 yrs)...and I'm thinking I should be taking them in. My 8 yr old has gone, but I should probably take her in more. Just curious what others do.
EDIT: Wow, I'm a total loser! I didn't know it was every SIX months! I thought it was every year;-)
Thanks everyone for your responses!
As a kid, I always went to the dentist. I can't remember if it was six months or every year. I never had a cavity until I was in my early 20's and then it was just one. While I don't take them in (except my oldest) we are toothbrushing freaks and do focus on good oral hygiene...minus the dentist:-) hehe...
With my younger ones (4 and under), they just seemed pretty young for it. i wasn't sure when to start. I see that my 4 & 3 year old are definitely old enough.
With my oldest, she had gone several times when she was younger due to having fallen and broken her two front teeth. As I just mentioned in my other "so what happened" response on my other question, my oldest was born with a rare disease. She has had to go to doctors regularly since birth and have blood tests done regularly (used to be every 3 months, now it's every six weeks). She has a lot of anxiety when it comes to doctors. A LOT of anxiety. It's obvious she feels a lack of control and has a big fear and is definitely a little fighter. She used to completely lose it and go crazy when they would try to touch her. She's been through a lot, though, so it's no surprise. While it was helpful for her physical to be seeing these doctors, it was definitely damaging to her emotionally (and heartbreaking to watch as parents!). We've done play therapy and have worked hard with her to help her through these things. She's made drastic improves with age and working with her.
She sees cardiologists (had open heart surgery), nephrologist (kidney), endocrinologist (thyroid/growth), and she regularly sees the hematologist. So, in all other areas aside from dentistry, she's been well taken care of.
But, honestly, due to her anxiety, we couldn't bring ourselves to take her to the dentist! Her past dental experience was really terrifying for her. She had to have a lot of work done (due to the broken teeth from falling) and added to her anxiety that she already had, she didn't do well with it. So, it's been something we put off for a while since we can't put other things off very easily.
Then when we felt like she was ready emotionally, she was in severe bone marrow failure, and the idea of taking her to the dentist where there are germs everywhere (even just the waiting room) made us very, very nervous. We are very careful where she goes and what she is exposed to. And, she has to have platelet transfusion should they do any mouth work because her platelets are so low.
Just wanted to explain in case I seemed like I was just being thoughtless and careless! I definitely thought about it, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to taking her to another doctor when she was struggling so bad. She has MUCHLY improved with age, though. She still has a lot of anxieties, but she knows how to handle it better now. Now they wouldn't have to pin her down and pry her mouth open like had to happen in the past!
Oh, and the dreaded dental bills. I'm hoping my kids have good teeth like I do. My little ones I'm not too concerned about. They seem to have very good teeth, eat healthy, only drink water, and they are still very young. So hopefully they'll be fine. We spend $400 to have insurance a month (not too bad for six people!), and then always reach our maximum $6000 out of pocket a year due to all the medical expenses of our daughter. So, fingers crossed no dental bills!
We'll definitely start taking them in regularly now, especially now that I know the others are plenty old enough. Thanks for the responses & thoughts & encouragement!
I take the kids (6 and 7) every 6 months. Neither of my kids have any cavities or other issues. I don't go but once every other year. I have had one cavity, and it was when I was about 12 years old.
Don't forget to floss!
My 5 year old and I go every 6 months. I started taking her at 3. My twins are 15 months and have not been. Apparently the recommendation is to start at 18 months now. It used to be 3, than 2.... we'll probably wait until 2. One twin seems to have some overlapping teeth, so will probably go sooner than I did with #1.
I have had dentists that always find something wrong. When that happens, I find a new dentist- and amazingly that "issue" never comes up with the new dentist. Don't go to one of these places that pushes the "extras" - whitening, etc. In my experience, they're the ones finding things wrong (looking for the upsell). Just go to a recommended family dentist. I love mine- he's in Richardson. Young guy - Pranay Patel. My daughter goes to Dr. Hedrick across from Presby Dallas. He's great. She loves going and he always tells me what wonderful teeth she has. (How can a mother not love that!!)
Kids are 11, 9, and 3. 11 & 9 year old go every 6 months. 9 year old had 1 cavity one time, and needed braces, but 11 year old has been fine. I start them around 3, and the 3 year old will go for the first time this summer.
I am a dental hygienist, and I started out in pediatrics. I know that it can seem like a waste of money to see the dentist every 6 months and find nothing wrong. I have, however, seen the other side and it is very sad. Several nights I left work crying due to the cases we saw. I can't tell all my sad stories, but let me just say that is is better to stay on top of things than to wait and find serious problems.
There are a lot of things that we do in those 6 month visits that are very helpful to prevent cavities. Sealants on 6 year molars and regular fluoride treatments have shown by several studies to lower the rates of cavities. We find areas the patient may be missing when they brush, and we can explain the importance of flossing. (Yes, it is very important!) We strive to make the visits fun for the child, then they hopefully will have a positive view of the dentist when they grow up.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Assocation now recommend seeing the dentist starting at age 1. Personally, I have seen many children that started seeing the dentist at age 3,4,5 or later that have "bombed out mouths". That is dental speak for several cavities, many of which cannot be fixed. The tooth (teeth) need(s) to be extracted. Sometimes the child doesn't come in until they are in pain. At that point drastic (a.k.a. expensive) measures need to be taken to save the tooth. And these are not just baby teeth, a child starts to get permanent teeth at age 5-6, give or take. Some baby teeth stay with a child until around age 12, and they "hold the spot" for the permanent teeth to come in. When they are pulled too early (due to decay) it probably means expensive orthodontics down the line to fix the alignment.
I could go on, but please, please, please, I beg parents to bring their child in at age 1 or 2. If there is no family history of decay, the child has no problems, and the child only drinks water, then at this point you could probably get away with yearly visits for a while. Anyone who sips on milk or juice all day would benefit from 6 month visits.
Hope this helps!
M.
Every six months. Our kids started when they were preschool age. Never have found anything wrong.
My husband procrastinated five years in going to the dentist and he's paying for it big-time now. He's now scheduled for multiple appts. to correct all of the problems with his teeth. He's kicking himself for not going in regularly. It really, really makes a difference and can affect overall health.
If you don't have insurance, there are cheap plans out there. We got a family plan through Delta Dental that was very affordable that offers decent coverage.
You're supposed to see the dentist every 6 months. My kids (almost 6 and 7) go once a year. I haven't been in forever (yikes), but I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE DENTIST! If I had insurance I would go for sure :)
Wow, yeah, I will be honest. I haven't gone in a really, really long time. But my kids do go!
My kids are going this morning:) They go every six months.
I go every three months. If not more. I didnt go for like six years. So, they have alot of work they are doing...I have to go in and get stuff done regularly.
I am not good with dentists. I was terrified of them when I was younger. I think though it is one of the more important up keeps:)
Every six months like clockwork.
I go every six months, I have terrible teeth and in the last year got 2 crowns. :-( My husband has never had a problem. My 4 year old is getting ready for her first appt in 2 weeks, hopefully she got her dad's teeth and not mine!
Yes, we go every six months and I started taking my kids by 3 years of age. Good oral hygiene is nothing to take for granted. So many major health problems can stem from not taking care of your teeth and gums. It is a good practice to start. Hope this helps!
A.
We all go every 6 months. My youngest (now 7) had her first visit at age 5.
With very few exceptions, I've been to the dentist every 6 months since I went for the first time at age 5, and if I could, I'd go every 3 months!! The 2 times I've gone a year+ between, the cleaning was painful, and I swore I'd never go that long again.
My son is 4.5 and has gone every 6 months since he was 18mo, and my 19mo daughter went for the first time at 17mo. Careful with the kids, though. I recommend finding a good pediatric dentist that your insurance covers. I chose to go with an out of network pediatric dentist because I didn't like the ones in network, but come open season, we'll be switching to the insurance their dentist takes (yes, I like him that much). My husband & I's dentist doesn't see kids under 10, but we'll be switching dentists as well, as the kids' dentist's father has an adult practice in the adjoining office :)
My mom & dad both have horrible teeth (sign of the times, I guess), but I've been lucky and after 3 cavities before age 7, I haven't had any since (thank goodness!!!).
I see the dentist every six months. The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists is now to start dental visits at a year old. When my kids were young, it was still three years old and that's when I started. I took them once a year until they got braces, then went to twice a year. Your kids should be going every year, even at preschool age.
We all go twice a year, I started taking the kids a little before the age of three.
Every six months for my daughter, once a year for me (no insurance). My daughter is 9 and has had no problems (yay, for flouride!) I had multiple fillings by her age.
My son (8), my husband, and I see the dentist twice per year. My son has been going to the dentist twice per year since he was 3.
every six months since about 2 years of age. my dentist rarely finds anything wrong... as long as we take care of our teeth the way we should.
Every six months. Kids start when they are 3.
I would have started taking DD at 3 yrs if we had not seen a problem with her tooth earlier. She sees a pediatric dentist every 6 mo. now but it was every 3 for a while. The rest of the family (teens and adults) sees the other dentist every 6 mo. as well. We try to get everyone in at once. As far as issues, it depends on the kid. SS - no cavities his whole life. SD - well....she doesn't brush well, no matter what we have tried and it's very frustrating. Make sure thy do sealants properly. Mine were done wrong and I got cavities under them when cracks formed.
Friends son needed extensive work at 4 yrs old. Please find a pediatric dentist and take them in, and monitor their brushing and flossing at home.
My boys started seeing the dentist every 6 months starting at 18 months old.
Updated
My boys started seeing the dentist every 6 months starting at 18 months old.
We go every 6 months and all of my kids started going at the age of 3, they are now 8, 6, and 4. My husband didn't go for YEARS no matter how hard I tried to make him come, and now we will have a huge bill to fix his teeth. Thanks hon! But yes, take your kids more :o). SO important to have healthy teeth. My kids even LOVE the dentist!
My kids go every 6 months starting at age 2.5. It does sound like yours need to go more frequently. I personally go every 3-4 months.
I go every 6 months. My child started when he got his 1st ____@____.com didn't do a cleaning just checked his teeth. He is currently 19mo and has been 2 more times just for check ups! I am seriously crazy about my teeth. I have passed it down to my child. He brushes his teeth constantly. Healthy teeth are important. That is the first thing people recognize. Most importantly if you don't take care of your teeth you have a higher chance of heart disease and other medical illness. I have always went to the dentist since I was very little. I only have one filling and that was because I broke a back tooth. Good luck!
I go myself every 6 months. I also started taking my kids when they turned 2 years old and they also go every 6 months. They don't always find something wrong. Although at their last appointment they both had cavities, even though I brush and floss their teeth daily
Yes, I go every three months and switch between a periodontist and a dentist. It sucks. I didn't go to the dentist for about 10 years and I'm certainly paying for it now!! I have never had a cavity but I do have gum issues, but I'm happy to say that I'm free of gum disease now! BUT, I do have to have gum graft surgery b/c it got so bad in one spot that it won't heal. So, although I totally get why you don't want to go, you may want to consider it.
My daughter went for the first time a few months ago, she's 3. She loved it and already has another appointment for this year. I take her to a pediatric dentist and I go to a regular dentist for me. I probably would have kept her at my office for ease but I don't really like them all that much so I opted for the other and I really like them, too bad I'm too old! ;)
I go every 6 months and have scheduled my 2 year old's first dental visit for this Saturday. It's important to go every 6 months so that major problems don't develop and cavities, if any, can be caught early.
We go every 6 months, kids too. They started seeing the dentist at 2.
Every six months for me and my kids. They've been going since age 2. Prevention is less expensive than pulling rotten teeth!
Cleanings twice a year with x-rays (as covered by insurance) and cavities filled as necessary for all five of us.
Im a dental assistant and after reading where you mentioned your childs heart condition I wanted to point out that it is even more important for people with heart conditions. Plaque is a bacteria in the mouth that can easily infect the bloodstream. It sounds like your kids love to brush which is excellent, try getting them in the habit of flossing too!
Good luck. :]
Of course, we are in every 6 months like clockwork for the routine cleaning and exrays once a year.
Daughter started with a pediatric dentist around 2, every 6 months and has just now (at 16) started going to our family dentist.
Sealants are important for the molars on your kids teeth as they grow. NO cavities!!
Children need to be monitored to make sure their bite is correct and teeth are developing correctly.
Yes, I agree with the other moms...make sure to do every 6mo check-ups with you and all your children. Especially since your daughter obivously has heart issues. Having cavities can cause severe heart problems and you should ALWAYS tell the dentist about her heart problems, and she should know to tell them when she gets older! Usually it's not a big deal, but if she does have to get something drilled, they will need to put her on some antibotics first to protect her from getting endocarditits...the best thing is, to prevent that from happening in the first place, with check-ups...you get the idea! ;) ....Oh, and don't fret about anyone thinking your "thoughtless or careless" or whatever for not taking them until now...there are people that never take their kids, and don't even care to ask if they should! At least your concerned!!!
I see mine two times a year....full disclosure...my sister is a dental hygenist, so I can't get away from it!
I take my kids every three months for a cleaning because we don't use any fluoride products.
My dentist is a family dentist (not just pediatric) - she is very competent and nice. Sometimes she finds problems, sometimes she doesn't. She doesn't try to sell me on the latest and greatest in dentistry. Her prices are reasonable.
I'd look around for someone with whom you can feel very comfortable and have confidence in his/her competence. I would also look carefully at the staff/hygienists. They can make or break your experience too.
Good luck.
PS: I try to keep X-rays to a minimum.
