How Old Should Your Child Be for the First Dental Visit

YIKES!!!
Actually, the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children been seen by a pediatric dentist at around 6 months of age. (PEDIATRIC DENTISTS MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!) I know that this seems early but it helps the children acclimate to the office, dentist and staff, as well as, to having someone poking around in their mouth. It also helps educate parents in regards to oral hygiene for their compliant or not so compliant child. You would be amazed by how many children go to the dentist for the first time at age 2 with a mouth full of decay. They end up having to go under IV sedation in order to have full mouth restorations. It is very sad to see a baby go under IV sedation!!!
I worked in dentistry for 10 years before I went back to school to be a special ed teacher and my mother is still a practising hygentist. I definately recommend a pediatric dentist for children, especially younger children. It makes all the difference in the world. As a matter of fact, my children see a pediatric dentist instead of just going to my mother!
I hope that this helps! If anyone has any more questions or would like to know who I think the best pedatric dentist (I worked for HER for 2 years before I went back to school) is, please just contact me.

I've been told by my mom & ped. to just bring them in when you go for your check-ups. (Until about age 3 or 4) That the dentist is usually pretty willing to look @ them without charging you for the the childs visit too. Mainly they just look at them to see that they are growing in correctly.

As far as cavities go, etc. I feel that is the parents responsibility to pay attention to what their child is eating/drinking (no sodas) & to brush their teeth regularly. Get your child in the good habit of doing it so as they get older they do it without you having to fight with them about it.

My son is 5 and he has his first visit tomorrow. Our pediatrician has been checking his teeth at our visits and I have talked with our family dentist several times about my son's anxiety/fear of the dentist and he said as long as he is brushing and the pediatrician sees no problems then it's okay. Once he turned 5 it was a magical age and he is now "brave" enough for the dentist...whatever works in my book!

My uncle is a dentist, and he agreed with the dentist that we see it should be around 5 years old unless you think there's a problem. Before then, they won't sit still, will probably not open their mouth for a stranger to poke around in, might be afraid of the lights and equipment and is not particularly necessary unless you suspect a problem, or there is a family history of dental issues, in which case you would want early diagnosis.

I have read articles on this, and have read that the "right" age is from one year, to when they have all their teeth in, etc. Some kids don't have a lot of teeth when they're a year old. I even read once that when they have 2 teeth next to each other you should start flossing. I have enough trouble battling mine with just brushing!!

Ask your dentist what they think.

We just took our son to his first cleaning and he's 3 1/2. The dentist said that's about normal. I LOVED her. Caleen Cantrell at CHILDSMILE in Frisco. HIGHLY recommend her! She cleaned and did x-rays and he loved all of it. He would not have tolerated it earlier though, so by waiting we had a good experience and now he can't wait to go back.

Now's the perfect time. The first visit should be at age 1.

Yikes! Eeeek! Well funny that I see this today I just took my kids in for their first visits. 1 is 3 and the other is 4. My son threw a fit and we basically had to hold him down. The dentist was NOT able to clean all she did was fluoride and they didnt do Xrays on him. But with the help of the actual dentist he was able to check a bit better than the dental assistant and he said my son didnt have cavities. My daughter on the other hand did EVERYTHING. She was sooo good and I was very proud of her. I guess it just depends on the child to be honest but taking the child early to get them used to being poked around in there would help aswell.

I too have a one year old, I asked my dentist and he said that next time I come in for a cleaning to bring her and he would look at her teeth. He said that he tells them he is the doctor that counts their teeth, upon more visits that I come in for they should get more and more comfortable with the dentist looking at the teeth. Eventually when they are more comfortable then they start getting their teeth cleaned.

My children see a pedi dentist. He starts seeing them at 13 months thru 13 years.

I think one year is the age they shoot for. Or if they cut a lot of teeth before then, then maybe even earlier. I know our pedi suggested taking our son at a year.

I know it is recommended at around 1 but if you have a dentist you may want to check with them. We called a few different offices in our area and most of them told us that they don't or won't see a child until they are around 3 years old.
This concerned us so we asked our pedi and he checked our son's teeth, said they looked good and to keep looking for a dentist to see him but not to get in a panic about it.