Yikes! Do We Need to Go to the Dentist Already?

My daughter is 18 months but I haven't taken her. She has her 18 month appointment tomorrow - I will ask to see what her dr recommends!

Take her to a pediatric dentist-they have all kinds of stuff they do for babies to help them be comfortable with the dentist. I couldn't even drive by the dentist's office or the pediatrician's office when the children were little without them begging to go in! Literally-in tears!

Dr Charlie says the first visit should be around their 2nd birthday. Not a real cleaning; counting teeth, brushing, talking about no gummie candy, etc

Yes!!! Why is it not as important as a wellness check at the MD? I'm passionate about this one. I started at 1 and she goes every six months. I have an awesome tooth brusher and its in her mind, "Dr. Job would be proud."

She lays down in your lap, not dentist chair. It should be a fun, child-geared experience. Only go to a ped dentist like you would a ped MD.

Its not a luxury, its a part of her health.

I started taking my kids around their 3rd birthday. Our dentist recommends waiting until they are able to sit in the chair, be still, and listen.

Our pediatrician said my children needed to be seen sometime between 1 to 3 years. Whenever I felt like they could handle it. My son had his first visit at 2 1/2 and my daughter went at about 15 months simply because I scheduled their appointments together. I would highly recommend finding a pediatric dentist though because they specifically serve little wiggly patients with short attention spans. The doctor we went to had a good size staff and a set up in which parents can go back with their kids and provide moral support. We were in and out and the kids had a blast watching tv's mounted to the ceiling and getting a toy from the treasure box at the end. It was a very smooth operation that my kids didn't have a moment to think about being scared! Good luck!
A.

I took my son just after he turned 2. They had me hold him in my lap while they counted his teeth and examined them and then brushed them with a regular (child) toothbrush.

I don't have Medicaid but one of our employee's does. They made her start taking her daughter @ 6 months.
I started my oldest at 18 months, the second a little later, and the third went at 2. My second and third never took a bottle or binky, so I wasn't so worried about them. My oldest took a binky, and we stopped the night of her appointment. The dentist didn't even know she took a binky and could see the damage being done so asked. I got to hold them, even for the x-rays. They're too little for bitewings, but they can make sure the teeth are growing properly and they are strong enough.
The sooner you go, the more likely they are to grow into healthy dental habits. My 2 year old already had his permanent teeth showing up in his x-rays. Those baby teeth are very important so that the permanent teeth don't grow in with cavities that can be passed on from the baby teeth if not taken care of!

Yes. I was told to take my son at 1 and then every 6 months from then. We go to a pediatric dentist and he LOVES it! He sits in my lap on the chair, the doctor examines his teeth and does a flouride polish, then gives him a rubber ducky and a sticker and sends us on our way.
In my opinion, it's way better to start then so, 1) they can get used to and comfortable with the dentist, and 2) If there is a problem, you can get it fixed.

DD is now 3 and booking her first dental check-up is on my list of things to do...I plan to take her to the same pediatric dentist that I saw as a kid, I know they will probably do a great job. I would have taken her sooner but she's only now becoming more cooperative and less freaked about things like doctor check-ups and hair cuts so even though they say start at 1, it was pretty hard to imagine it going well at that age. I've been diligent about brushing her teeth twice a day and they appear to be fine, so I'm not super worried about it, but I know I need to do it soon.

Our pediatrician told us to take our son at age 1. But when I called around to the pediatric dentists in our area, none would see him. Their rule was to come in at age 3 UNLESS there was a problem (chipped tooth, loose tooth, change of color, etc). We had an appointment to take our son this summer since he would be three. But we went in a bit early since he knocked one of his teeth out.

I took my daughter at 2.5 y. At her first visit she already had 4 cavaties (her very back teeth). He said we were getting the back ones well enough. She had to get filling in two of them, and protectant on the others.
He said that kids should start getting checked at around 1y so that they get used to the routine and the dentist can see if there will be any early problems with teething, etc.

Goodness, no! I would wait at least until she is 3. At that point, for the first appointment, I would just have them "count her teeth" and give her a surprise. Short, sweet, fun. Then go back 6 months later for her first appointment. The only variance would be if you notice a problem with her teeth, which is very uncommon. And, pick a place that allows you to go in with her for the whole time. I refuse to go to a place that says parents have to wait in the waiting room. No way. Yes, I have strong opinions. :) I don't let my children go in to see any adult without my supervision.
Anyway, don't stress about it. You have lots of time!

No, you are supposed to take them by 3. My son just turned three and we are taking him on Friday. We waited because until 2 weeks ago, he would freak out at the doctor's. Now he likes the doctor. I would take her before 3 though. If you have concerns regarding tooth decay ect then take her but from what I understand, if you take them this young its just really a trial run and they give you advice. Don't worry.

We started before 2. Just be sure you find a pediatric dentist. Not a family dentist who is good with kids. A pediatric dentist should have hospital privileges so that procedures, such as caps, can be done with anesthesia and in a hospital setting. He is a specialist on baby teeth and the adult teeth underneath that are forming.

Our grand daughter fell at her moms and broke a tooth off. Our pediatric dentist put her to sleep to do all the work, it was awesome. She woke up, was a bit sleepy, and ready to go eat lunch. She never had a bad dream about dental work, never had any problems whatsoever.

I called our pediatric dentist after my one year old fell and chipped his tooth. I wanted to take him in to have it checked out and they suggested he also get a cleaning while he was there. I said "Hes ONE!" She said they recommend cleanings at that age. Yeah, it was a DIASTER!!! He used to be totally ok with me brushing his teeth before that, after, he would barely let me get near him with a tooth brush. Not to mention during the whole cleaning, a straight jacket would have done him no justice. I will not be taking my next 1 year in for cleanings, I will wait until 2 or 3.

I think the recommendation is too early for most kids. As my son's teeth came in I discussed them with my dentist and he told me how to clean them. When my son lost his first baby tooth (he was 5 yrs old), that's when the dentist wanted to see him. I brought him in with me for my own appointment and the dentist showed my son everything they were doing for me. The dentist let my son play at being the dentists assistant. The dentist explained what all the tools did (and what sounds they make). He even let my son work the chair controls while I was in the chair - my son LOVED that. Then it was my son's turn and they counted his teeth and took x-rays so they could see how his adult teeth were forming up. It was a great introduction and my son has never been difficult at any dentists office. For a long time my son liked to pretend he was my dentist at home (when he wasn't pretending to be a fireman).

I am pretty sure general rule of thumb is 3.

I took my son at 18 months. They didn't do a cleaning. They just looked at his teeth and polished them with fluoride. Our insurance paid, but it was much cheaper than a cleaning.

we started at 4 for my daughter and 3 for my son.

My son went to the dentist for the first time when he was 25 months, it worked out well at that time because he had all his baby teeth. For his first visit they only just looked at his teeth to make sure they were growing the way they were supposed to, then he had a cleaning 6 months later. I would definitely recommend a pediatric dentist if you can find one near you because they make the experience less scary for them.

Our dentist said age 3....which reminds me my son just turned 3. Better get on that tomorrow morning!

I think 2.5 to 3 is about average.

We were told by the dentist that they need to start going when they get their first tooth. I did the wait til he was 3 with my son and that was the biggest mistake ever!! He needed so much dental work he had to be sedated (he also has other medical problems) and I keep his diet healthy and brush teeth.

The first couple of visits aren't actually for a "cleaning". The dentist will "count" the teeth, show your child the cool chair and generally be nice, so that by the time they're 3 or so, they'll be used to the dentist and won't have any problems with the actual cleaning. I think my kids went to the dentist when they were between 2 and 3 for the first time and got a full cleaning sometime between 3 and 4. Honestly, I don't even remember, but I DO know it wasn't as early as 15 months!

I waited til my son was 3. Technically sure they want you to take them at 1 yr, but I don't think its necessary. I think maybe 2-2.5 is better.

I didn't take my first son until he was three as recommended by our pediatrician. He was fine and no cavities. However, my second son I had to take when he was 2 1/2 because I saw obvious signs of cavities. He was always and still is so difficult when I try brushing his teeth. He ended up with five cavities all in his molars! So, my third, my DD, I just took her when she turned one. I went to a pediatric dentist and she just looked in her mouth and counted teeth. They didn't attempt a cleaning. I just didn't want the same thing to happen as with my middle child who ended up with a mouthful of cavities! No, he wasn't bottle fed either!

Took DD when she was almost 3.
Don't plan to take DS (15 months) anytime soon. He only has 3 1/2 teeth! He DESPISES the doc. office, getting his hair cut, or anything of the sort. I am going to wait until he's older and can "reason" and "practice" at home a little bit before we go so it isn't traumatic to him.
P.S. DD's teeth were fine at 3 years old. Granted, we got the, "get rid of the binky" lecture, but we were in the process anyway!