When to Take Son to Dentist...

There is a the ASDOH baby tooth clinic that will do free exams for children up to 2 yrs of age, and for a small fee for children older then 2 - $15 for exam and $10 for xray. We took our daughter at 18 months, they did an exam and a floride varnish and some advice on tooth care for her. They were great and it was free!
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Dentristy & Oral Health Clinic
5855 E. Still Circle, Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206

My four year old grandson lives with us, and visited the dentist for the first time a few months ago. He had no cavities, but the Tech cleaned his teeth, then informed me she found the most amount of placque on the outsides of upper and lower molars.

He had a great time, was extremely cooperative and well behaved, and had a blast when the Tech put him in charge of using the tool that sucks up excess fluids and water.

Prior to this dental visit, my grandson's bedtime ritual consisted of using the toilet, brushing teeth, pull up diaper and jammies, a small cup of milk and a book to read in bed for a few minutes. Then, lights out.

After the visit to the dentist, we changed this ritual, so that only water would be available once teeth were brushed. We made sure to concentrate on those outside molars. Once we explained the reason for the change, he had no problem at all with it. He was happy to have a little milk prior to dressing and brushing for a week or so, and now, is perfectly happy without a bedtime drink at all.

This works out wonderfully. He is totally potty trained during the day, but still wears a pull-up overnight, just in case. Before the change in schedule, the diaper was dry the next morning about 85% of the time, but now, without a bedtime drink, the pull-up is wet maybe once or twice a week.

I do have some strong opinions/concerns regarding any type of filling work or other costly procedures that a dentist recommends for temporary, or "baby" teeth. If removal of, or fillings for temporary teeth are recommended by any dentist, I would seriously consider a second opinion, especially if the initial recommendation came from a "chain" or franchise type dental clinic, as opposed to a small, privately owned practice. The amount of decay in a baby tooth, (a very slow process for dense bone and enamel), would have to be ridiculously severe for the permanent teeth below the gums to be affected.

When I hear that the removal of temporary teeth is recommended, I wonder what diagnosis could be so horrible, that a costly and dangerous surgical procedure must be performed on a young child. Those teeth are going to be gone very soon!

My siblings and I were born in the 50's, before flouride was added to water systems or administered orally to infants. I recall falling and damaging a temporary front tooth. It turned gray and died, then was replaced in the natural, usual fashion with a beautiful, healthy permanent tooth!

I have two grown children. My 31-year old daughter, when young, had a sealant applied to her permanent teeth. I highly recommend this treatment! The sealant fills the tiny crevices and protects against decay, sometimes for many years. My son, six years younger, did not have this sealant treatment, and has four or five fillings in his permanent teeth.

My daugthter visited a "chain" dental clinic a few years ago, and they told her that she had six or seven cavities that needed filling, and gave her a huge estimate! She decided to get a second opinion, and asked that her x-rays be transferred to another dentist. I was not surprised when she told me the clinic balked, then actually refused to transfer those x-rays.

The dentist she visited a few weeks later for a second opinion, x-rayed her teeth and found NO cavities!

I recommend the last things in your son's mouth prior to bedtime should be toothbrush, toothpaste, or water. A good brushing after breakfast is a good idea to remove overnight build-up.

Dental costs are high, and it's rare to find an insurance plan that will cover most costs. The insurance I have for my dog is better than any I have seen for a human!

One of the reasons this request caught my eye is the fact that a couple months ago, while brushing the teeth of my seven year old dog, I noticed two of his important canines were pink in color allover. Took him to the vet, who then referred me to a special vet with dental training. The teeth were dying, damaged internally, by external "tapping" from frisbee catching. He had two root canals a couple of weeks ago, a two and a half hour procedure, which included blood work tests, anesthesia, pain and post-surgery antibiotic meds. The total cost for two consultations and the surgery was over $1600. There will be a $40.00 deductible, then the pet insurance company will pay 80% of usual and standard costs!

Take your son to a dentist, but I would avoid "chain" type establishments, which may charge for unnecessary procedures, in order to cover their costs for advertising and prime office location rental/overhead, etc.

:)

Take him to a pediatric dentist now so that you can get the expert advice about drinks at bedtime and teeth brushing. A good pediatric dentist will also give your son a positive outlook on taking care of his teeth. I learned a LOT from our first experience with a pediatric dentist.

As a Dental Assistant, I know most dentist recommend that children start to be seen at the age of 3yrs old. Yes dentist will put fillings in baby teeth. Your son will not start to loose baby teeth until the age of five or six. Also watch what you give your son at bed time, no milk or juice in a bottle to bed with him. That will cause your son to have bottle rot. I would recommend a Pediatric Dentist. In Prescott Valley, there is a place called KIDZAM Dentistry. This place is really geared towards kids. There is no way you can miss this building, it looks as if it is straight out of a DR. Sues' book!! It is also good for your son to have Fluoride treatments while at the dentist, as well as using a fluoride toothpaste, just make sure you don't use a lot and try to get him to spit out as much as possible. Fluoride is good for the bones and is what makes them nice and hard.
Good Luck!!

They start seeing them at age 2 and they do fillings if your child needs them. If you are in Tucson, and want a recommendation for a great pediatric dentist, let me know. I love ours.

We were told no later then their third birthday. We have a great pediatric dentist at 75th & Deer Valley. It's called Kidz R Cool, fun place and everything is kid sized.

Hi!
It is not fillings in baby teeth that I would be worried about as damage that can be done by having milk or juice to bed. The baby teeth can get so badly damaged by the sugars in either that their condition can effect even the permanent teeth. If you look up "bottle rot" in your books or on the internet, you can see how bad this can get.
I would take him soon to a pediatric dentist to have him checked out and switch to water if he needs a cup close while sleeping.

Good luck!
D.