When to Go to the Dentist - New York,NY

Funny...I just had my cleaning today and asked the same thing about my baby. My MIL is the dental assitant. She said they usually can start coming around age 2, so we scheduled his first cleaning for next month. Its simple and they do it to help the kids get used to someone being in their mouths.

I was told that they didn't need to go until they are 2. I just took my daughter when she was a little over 2 and the dentist seemed to think this was the right time. But my daughter didn't get her molars until she was 16 months old.

Hope that helps

I am a pediatric dentist. The recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is all children should be seen by one year old. The goal of the first visit is to identify those children at risk for cavities and discuss prevention.
Pediatric dentists do an additional 2-3 years after dental school specializing in the care and treatment of children and their teeth. Check out www.aapd.org and click on Parent Resource Center for more information or to find a pediatric dentist near you.

Guidelines are changing. Used to be they said you didn't need to bring in child until they were 3 years. Now they are saying as soon as they have teeth. My childrens' dentist wants to see them as soon as they get a tooth.

Our family dentist recommended 3. We took our son when he turned 3 and he wasn't willing to get checked out, so he watched me, then returned the next day and did it.

I have a 13 month old with 4 molars too- super fun, right?? :)

I am planning on taking him to the dentist around 2, I think. I don't want to take him yet, because I really think he'll be traumatized by the whole situation. The last thing I want is for him to have dentist issues his whole life!

I give him vitamins with fluoride (we're in NJ, where there's none in the water), and I brush his teeth every night. I think that's enough for now!

I was told even if they have teeth that they don't need to be seen until they are one. This information was from our dentist. Hope this helps!

My friend is a pediatric dentist and she recommends bringing them in for the first time around 1 or even 9 or 10 months, but she said certainly no later than 2.

My kids started at 2. Our current dentist starts at 3. The AAP recommends after first tooth. Whatever you decide make sure you have flouride supplements in the meantime through your pediatrician.

Between 2-3 years old. My brother-in -law is a dentist, and sees many young children with loads of cavities and sometimes needing extensive dental work.

I took my daughter when she was 15mths. Make sure you get a pediatric dentist

I think the dental "experts" recommend a year but that the AAP recommends 3 years (or used to when I had the question). I waited until 3 with both of my kids, and the dentists that we used were regular family denists, not pediatric dentists, so they didn't want to see them any earlier. I would ask your daughter's doctor for his/her opinion and ask your own dentist's opinion.

My friend is a dentist says by age 2.. which comes to mean around 2... like the month before, the month of the 2nd b-day or about the month after. If you take them about 1 year old.. it may induce fear in them. She says only to bring them younger if you see a problem.. Find a good Pediatric Dentist.. their is one in Westfield Nj... and they are amazing with children...no fear at all. My kids love the dentist and they both went at about age 2... to make sure their teeth are getting enough flouride and are coming in good. good luck....

Dentist recommend 1 year. Most pediatricians say 3 so I took my son at 2 :)
He's 3 now and has been to the dentist twice and he loved it.

Make sure you get a pediatric dentist. Call them and ask.
It is a better experience with a pediatric dentist. Wish they had them when we were kids. We read beeks about going to t he dentist and they had gone with me. So they were intellectually prepared. I do beleive they were 3 years old. (the twins)

I stared bringing my son with me during my appointments (with someone who could watch him while I was with the dentist) just so he got used to the office. Around his third birthday the dentist did try to look in his mouth and my son freaked out so we didn't take it further at that point. When I brought him just last week for what I called a "field trip" to try and get him used to it again he jumped right in the chair and let them clean his teeth. My dentist told me as long as we were cleaning his teeth twice a day and there didn't seem to be any problems we could wait till he was ready, which he told me was usually around 3-4 years old. Also if you have dental insurance check when they start covering a child. Mine didn't start till he was three.

Hi J.,

Most Dentists that I have come across seem to say 3 years for the first appointment and a few will say 2 or 2.5. There are very few dentists that I have seen that will encourage you to bring your child in at around one year of age. I would suggest looking for a pediatric dentist that likes to see children between 1 and 2. I think it is very beneficial to get them in early and get them comfortable with the Dentist looking at their mouth. The Dentist can detect any potential problems and you can get great advice on how best to clean their teeth. You can also decide about floride treatments if necessary.
My daughter had her first dentist appointment at 2.5 and I wish that I would have taken her in at 2. She didn't have anything seriously wrong, but she really benefited from the cleaning and it was a good experience for her. She got a floride treatment and I got really great information from the dentist on cleaning her teeth.
While we were there, I saw several three year olds that were getting extensive dental work, so I'm sure for them waiting until 3 was too late.

All the best,
B.

I took my daughter at 13 montns to a pediatric dentist. They were great. For there practice it was 18 months or 8 teeth. She had 8 teeth so we went. We go once a year, and have had no problems. I would go before 3, so that he/she is use to it. It is worth it, so they are not scared. Call around and ask, and get a couple opinions too. Take care

Our dentist here will see them when they turn three. We have also had a dentist in Texas that would not see them until they are five. You might want to call your dentist and ask them what age they recommend you start taking them.

I just went to my son's 15 month check-up. My doctor recommended that we start going to a pediatric dentist now My son also has a lot of teeth (Regular and Molars).

Hope this helps.

With my first 2 they did not go until between the ages of 2 and 3, but then our pediatric dentist told us to bring our last one in by 18 months. He had most of his teeth except molars by then. It got him used to the dentist, he sat in our lap to start so he was not afraid. The hygienists for the kids also specialized in pediatrics, so they are also fantastic and speedy quick.

Dear J.,
Hi my name is L. M. I am a Dental Hygienist, the age you usually take a child to the dentist is 3yrs old they usually are ols enough to sit still. The rule of thumb with children is usually tell,show, do that way they are not afraid. Now if prior to 3yrs old you see something on your daughters baby teeth you should take her to the dentist.

Hope I was a help