When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Co worker of mine is bringing her year old to the dentist and she wanted to know if that was crazy. Personally I think so. She only has 2 teeth.

I thought you should at least wait until all the teeth are in?

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I took DS to the dentist for the first time when he was 2 1/2. He had all his teeth fully in except for his 2 year molars. They started coming in, but were not fully in yet.

They really just start getting them used to the whole "dentist" idea at that age. Sit in the chair, count the teeth, check the overbite, put some flouride paste on the teeth. That was it. I took him again at 3 and they did the same thing. I'm thinking the next time we go they will attempt a cleaning or something a little more.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I took my DD about a month before she turned 2 BUT only because DH and I had an appointment for a cleaning and my dentist is my uncle. So we figured while we were there we would just give her the experience of sitting in the big chair and have her teeth looked at.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I am really bad I am just taking DS and he is 4 1/2.

I would have like to have taken him about 6 months ago at 4.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I took DS just before he was 3. I honestly can't imagine having taken him before that. He sat really well for the cleaning but when the doc came over to inspect, he flipped out and it took 3 people to hold him down for her to complete the exam. At least I could sorta rationalize with him and bribe him. If he were younger, he just would clamped down and screamed from the getgo.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Both my kids first visits were at age 4. My DS had a perfect check up, no cavities and continues to be fine.

My DD had 4 cavities and had them all filled. Was not expecting that after my DS had great check ups.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Right when she turned 3. The recommendations are so varied on this in my experience. At DD's 3-year well visit, the ped said start at age 4 unless there's a complaint or something....DD was complaining that her teeth hurt a few weeks later, so I took her. The dentist was "surprised" that her first visit was at age 3, she said they recommend starting at age 1, twice a year Yeah, no thanks!

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

i just took DD, she turned 3 Jan. 2nd....it was a waste of time other then trying to get her used to the dentist.
she wouldnt open her mouth for anyone and ended up trying to eat her prize at the end (an eraser )

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

right when he turned 4

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I took my oldest at 4. My daughter 3, and my youngest 2 haven't been yet. They tried to tell me that I should have brought them in starting at age 1. Yeah, I don't think so. Unless there's a problem they'll be going the same time when they need it for school.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

My DS just went for the 1st time at age 5....Our dentist ( not a ped dentist) told me their office generally doesn't see them until they are in kindergarten
( - didn't quite get that), but fortunately he had no cavities.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

I asked my dentist and they said they like to see them when they first have teeth.

DS will be 20 mo in June when I go for my checkup; the dentist told me to bring him with me. he has 8 teeth so far.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

We are going to bring our one year old soon. The pediatric denistry academy recommends their first visit be at a year. Why not start early? DS already has 7 teeth. You hear too many little kids with cavities and such because their parents waited to take them.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

DS is going for the first time next week. He will be 4 in march.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

DD has 16 teeth (she's 18 months)...

I'll probably wait till she's 2

I'm in NO rush to pay more copays

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

At my office we generally say to bring the kids between 2 1/2 through 3 1/2 unless u see something obvious like any holes or black spots, than bring them in as early as u need too. My dd has her 1st appt in march and she will be almost 2 1/2.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Our pediatrician said to go at 3 and we did.

Dentist said we should have been coming since DD was 1.

I think 3 was the right age for DD.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Dec 2010 so 2Y 4M

ETA: it was free because I'd had her insured since day one so why not. I don't insure her now (different story) Dentist said she saw them as young at 9m but 18m was an average. Oh and she's not a pediatric dentist. But she has three kids of her own and was super sweet, AJ loved the free toy! haha

Message edited 1/25/2011 3:55:39 PM.

Re: When did you bring your child for the 1st time to the dentist??

Jenna just went on Saturday, she is 5. Went to an awesome pediatric dental practice in Holbrook