do you think a child should have their first dentist visit??
I was reading a book yesterday that said by the age 2. I had my 2 DS's first check up when they were 3. Now my DD is 3 and I will be making a appt. for her.
I was just curious how old your kids were when they had their first check-up?

By Debbie on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 09:10 am:

I took both my ds's when they turned 3. I think that is what they used to recommend. However, my dentist is now saying it is good to take them in at 18 months, just so they can check their teeth. They don't do anything but look at them.

By Kittycat_26 on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 09:37 am:

I asked my dentist about this specifically because at 15 months, Timmy had all of his teeth. He said that as along as their were no problems that he didn't need to see Timmy until he was 2 1/2 or 3years old. He explained that in waiting a little while longer, he had a better chance of doing an exam and having him cooperate.

Hey, it worked for me. I'm not looking forward to convincing him to hold his mouth open.

By Melanie on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 09:40 am:

Both of my boys were three. It took a couple of times before either of them fully cooperated. DD is 2.5 and I may take her in before that. She watched her brother at the dentist last week and I took her out of there kicking and screaming because she wanted a turn, too. LOL.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 09:53 am:

Both my kids were 3 for the first visit, and like Mel's kids, it took a few visits before they cooperated and allowed an examination and cleaning. I first took them to our area pediatric dentist thinking he would be best for kids. WRONG! This guy just wasn't good with my kids. I ended up taking them to my dentist, who happens to be a mom and lives across the street from us, and they've done GREAT! The hygenist is VERY good with them, too.

By Tonya on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 10:30 am:

Timmy went at 2.5 and let them look but not touch and he even let them do a few x-rays. now he is a pro.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 11:06 am:

I took my kids when they were three. The first time, they just counted teeth. The second time they did the exam and cleaning. My kids both did really well. They always let me come in with Emily, which I think helped Emily.

By Eve on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 11:30 am:

I plan on taking DD when she turns 3 too. Trina, I'll have to get her name from you! I can't imagine how Syd will do! LOL!

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 11:33 am:

I just took my kids to the dentist last week for their checkups. Ds has been going since he was 2 1/2 but dd won't be two for anohter week or so. I think the earlier they go in the better. Dd's exam just consisted of playing with a toothbrush and showing her pretty teath to the dentist. She was so excited when they gave her a dragon toothbrush. Ds just turned 6 and they said he will definately need braces oh well there were no cavities . His 2 front bottom teeth are loose and there are 2 full grown ones directly behind them. They said that they could pull them but that it would take away from the child hood experience of "loosing" his teeth and that there was no reason to pull them since they were just connected by his gums and already loose, pulling them out would probably just tramatize him and it wouldn't help the other two teeth any faster than if they fell out.

By Conni on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 01:05 pm:

My older boys (now 11 and 9) started at 4yrs.

I asked my hygeniest what she thought about Blake (3yrs) coming in. She said just to make an appt for him to come when my older boys get their next cleaning, which is in the spring. So he too will start at 4 yrs. She said the older they are the better they do in 'THE CHAIR' !! LOL

By Kaye on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - 01:24 pm:

I took my daughter at age 2, my sons at 18 months. My youngest LOVES the dentist. If he goes with me for my turn he just pitches a fit that he doesn't have a turn. He went along with my oldest two when he was 6 months, then a year, etc. Their dentist was great about letting him sit in the chair and looked at his teeth at a year. Most kids don't NEED a dentist until they are 4-5, but the thought is that they are more comfortable with the idea if it something they have always done. Plus when they go little they don't do anything, so it isn't tramautic. If they are going for the first time you want it to be a positive experience!

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 - 02:11 pm:

My middle DD just turned 4, and she has yet to let a dentist in her mouth! We've been taking her and she refuses. She is scared to death. My oldest DD loves the dentist. My DS (18months) hasn't been yet.

The dentist is really good with my 4 year old and isn't pushy with her. He said that it is better to just let her be rather than make her paranoid of dentists for life by forcing her into an exam. We check her teeth regularly at home (obviously not a real dentist exam, but we keep our eyes open for problems).