Looking for Advice on When to Start Looking for Dentist

Usually around 3. When the child has all of their molars and teeth in. They don't clean their teeth at their first appointment. They just get them familiar with the dentist chair and staff. The dentist will look at the teeth though. The 2nd appointment is cleaning and flossing (if the child let's them). The staff tries their best to make it a fun experience (not a scary one). You have plenty of time.

I don't want to scare you - at all. But I learned this lesson the hard way with my daughter (and she is still suffering). My father kept harping on me that the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests - first tooth, first visit. However, my dentist said she did not need to be seen until she was at least two. I unfortunately listened to the dentist (I trusted them, which I should have, but I should have asked a pediatric dentist) This usually wouldn't be that much of a problem - except that my daughter had fallen when she was first learning to walk and cracked her bottom two front teeth (inside the gumline, so we had no idea). If she had been to the dentist, they would have caught this. Unfortunately, a year and a half later, she has had one of those teeth removed, because the root eventually stopped holding the tooth in solid enough and her pediatric dentist was worried about her choking on it - and next week she goes back to have the second one removed because, though we hoped it would, that root didn't strengthen back either. SO - I would definitely suggest taking them in for their first visit when they get their first tooth. You also should check the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's website - because I learned quite a bit on there. Our situation is extreme, I know. But I definitely feel that my daughter would still have both teeth if we had caught this a year and a half ago - at what should have been her first visit - instead of now at her first visit. Good luck :D

My pediatrician told us at my son's 1 yr check up that he should start going to the dentist, as recommended by AAP. So I called a pediatric dentist who recommended waiting until my son was 18 months, as they cooperate a tad bit more. So, at 18 months I took him to the dentist. She counted his teeth, said everything looked good and we discussed eating/dental habits. We will go back in May after his birthday and the dentist will actually clean his teeth and do a fluoride treatment.

We began brushing my son's teeth/gums around 5 months old. We wanted him to get used to it and he really enjoyed it - it massaged his sore gums. We made teeth/gum brushing a part of his bedtime routine (after his last bottle) as an infant, and now as a toddler he expects it (and reminds us if we forget!).

Our children's dentist says that as soon as a baby has a tooth- it is time to see a dentist. Not only does this give the dentist a chance to monitor the child's oral health fromt he beginning, but it helps your child to become accustomed to regular visits. There isn't much to a dentist visit for a baby/toddler- they are quick and painless! But, the habits that it reinforces with your child is valuable.

My understanding was that if the baby was born with a tooth or got one very soon that you needed to have them checked

I have several friends who are dentists, and they all say 2 years old should be their first introduction to the dentist. So I would say start looking around, getting referrals, etc. when your daughter hits 18 months.

My daughter is 15. When she was a baby she'd go with me to my routine cleanings, etc. When she was a little older, my dentist would have her "open like mommy" and she'd just feel around her gums and check the teeth she had.

I feel this experience made my daughter more at ease in the dental chair and with the dentist. I personally had a horrible experience as a child and I still relive that when I simply go for cleanings.

Before daughter was 2, we were seeing a pediatric dentist on a regular basis to keep check on everything. Fortunately, she has great teeth, no cavities, no need for braces....just like we hit the lottery on that one!!

I do suggest the sealants when it comes time to do that. Most insurance covers it and it keeps your child's teeth healthier.

My pediatrician said 3, but my ped dentist said 1. My daughter is now 3 and just had her 2nd cleaning. They found 3 cavaties!! So much for her being independent and brushing her own teeth!

M.

We just set up our son's 1st appointment for his 3rd birthday in May, but we have been taking him to our appts for the last few times so he can get used to the setting. Our dentist sees no reason to check on kids before that, unless you think there is a specific problem. They are too squirmy and won't let you look at their teeth anyway. I know a lot of people like to use a pediatric dentist, but from my experience they are overpriced and recommend work that really isn't necessary, all in the name of being a "specialist". Our family dentist is great with kids and he charges $102 for a cleaning and exam, the peds dentist down the road charges $185 for the same service. For now, you can get a gum-brush and later a baby toothbrush to use with non-flouride toothpaste.

our dentist office says they like to see kids as early as possible and that they don't need to wait until 2 years old. That said, my older son saw them at 2 or 2.5 and my younger son will be two on Monday and hasn't seen them yet.

Hi there!

I asked my pediatrician the last time my son had a check up and she said the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend a dental check up until they are three. Everything else I have read says you should bring them in when they get their first tooth. I think both are extreme. My son is almost 17 months and only has 6 teeth so far. I plan to bring him in within the next few months. For a few reasons, he has some tissue in between his top front teeth and i think it might be painful when I brush. My sister in law had this too and she had to have it removed, so I am concerned he might have to as well.

You could wait until she gets a few teeth in and you have started to brush them, just in case you have concerns about how to do it and or if you're doing a good enough job.

As far as preemie teething toys go, not sure of any. But my son really loved the mesh teethers that you can put frozen fruit in. He would just naw on it and it helped sooo much. He doesn't like it as much now that he has a lot more teeth, but it was great the first few teeth. Good luck!

S.

I did not take my daughter for her first appt until she was 2 years old. Prior to that I bought her a baby toothbrush with training toothpaste and i would brush her teeth twice a day. When they are so little they just do cleaning which took about 5 minutes and the dr checks their teeth. My daughters two front teeth came out crocked so I learned that she does not have enough space for her teeth and she might need to use braces when she is older.
I think the whole idea of bringing them in is just to get cleaning, get them used to the dentist.
Now she uses kids toothpaste and we brush her teeth twice a day, she has the hang of it now so it is not a hassle to get her to brush he teeth she actually likes it.

Most dentists won't even see a child until they are around 2 years old. That is the age to start the idea of going to the dentist for cleanings, good dental hygeine and habits. Although the child teeth should be brushed 2ce a day. But while they are a baby, I think a parent should be using the products to keep teeth and gums clean, while the child is growing used to the tooth brush and the idea now.

If there is a problem before 2 years, make a call to a pedodontist, but if nothing is abnormal, don't worry about it.

A.