Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

a good friend of mine is a pediatric dentist and she says 1 year

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

Posted by MommyofG

Posted by WhatNow

My son just went for the first time last week. He is 3 and a half.

The point of a visit at this age is not to check if is there is anything wrong--most likely nothing is unless you have been feeding him candy by the pound --but to get the child used to the idea of going to the dentist, sitting in the chair and having his teeth checked. Kind of like training in anticipation of bigger things to come because of course there will come a time when he will need to have some real dental work done.

So, taking a 1 one year old baby to the dentist serves absolutely no purpose. He/she will not remember anything and the whole idea is that he/she does and thinks of the dentist office as a non-intimidating, friendly place.
So, you have some time still before you need to bring him in!

WOW. I cant tell you enough how inaccurate this information is!!!!!
Where did you get this information from????????

3 1/2 is too old - you are suppose to bring your DC to the dentist when they get their first tooth. Parents are educated in home care, diet, nutrition and any special needs regarding bottles, pacifiers and thumbsucking etc. there is a lot to the first visit.
If your child has any of those habits and you bring them to the dentist at 3 1/2 for the first time it is just about too late to correct any damage on its own ( the bone) after the child has stopped.
At 3 1/2 I have seen many many children with a ton of cavities on their back molars which they have until they are 12 years old so if they came in before they had developed the parent would have been educated on how to keep them clean and hints with food as well. edited to add if your child is on medications for anything like asthma for instance the parent needs to be educated regarding medications and your childs teeth.
Did you know you are suppose to floss your childrens teeth if they have tight contacts?
I could go on and on but I wanted to clear this up for all moms.
I am a registered dental hygienist and work at a pediatric dental office.
if anyone has any questions please feel free to fm me.

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

Posted by WhatNow

Posted by MommyofG

Posted by WhatNow

My son just went for the first time last week. He is 3 and a half.

The point of a visit at this age is not to check if is there is anything wrong--most likely nothing is unless you have been feeding him candy by the pound --but to get the child used to the idea of going to the dentist, sitting in the chair and having his teeth checked. Kind of like training in anticipation of bigger things to come because of course there will come a time when he will need to have some real dental work done.

So, taking a 1 one year old baby to the dentist serves absolutely no purpose. He/she will not remember anything and the whole idea is that he/she does and thinks of the dentist office as a non-intimidating, friendly place.
So, you have some time still before you need to bring him in!

WOW. I cant tell you enough how inaccurate this information is!!!!!
Where did you get this information from????????

3 1/2 is too old - you are suppose to bring your DC to the dentist when they get their first tooth. Parents are educated in home care, diet, nutrition and any special needs regarding bottles, pacifiers and thumbsucking etc. there is a lot to the first visit.
If your child has any of those habits and you bring them to the dentist at 3 1/2 for the first time it is just about too late to correct any damage on its own ( the bone) after the child has stopped.
At 3 1/2 I have seen many many children with a ton of cavities on their back molars which they have until they are 12 years old so if they came in before they had developed the parent would have been educated on how to keep them clean and hints with food as well. edited to add if your child is on medications for anything like asthma for instance the parent needs to be educated regarding medications and your childs teeth.
Did you know you are suppose to floss your childrens teeth if they have tight contacts?
I could go on and on but I wanted to clear this up for all moms.
I am a registered dental hygienist and work at a pediatric dental office.
if anyone has any questions please feel free to fm me.

My info is both my own dentist, mother of 3 and my kids pediatrician.

Bottles, thumb sucking, overuse of pacifiers should be discussed in a pediatrician office. Obviously, parents of a child with special medical needs, like asthma, need to pay close attention to ALL aspects of their health and again, if they are taking special meds their pediatrician should bring this up and mention that an early visit to the dentist is needed.

But going to a dentist at 1 and especially having a toddlers teeth cleaned? I know that pediatric dentists do offer those services but does it mean we NEED to do it?

It's kind of like cord blood banking. Some parents find it essential because they know of a specific disease that their child has and CB will help their child's quality of life it the future. Other people do it because it is all the rage and the places who provide those services are making mad money off it by advertising that we all absolutely must do it.The rest of parents see no need for it...

So, I think I will respectfully agree to disagree with the opinion you provided!

Message edited 1/11/2009 4:54:12 PM.

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

More facts .....

As an effective way to begin a lifelong program of preventive dentistry, the American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that dental visits begin with the appearance of a
child's first tooth, typically around six months but no later than one year.
During the first-tooth visit, pediatric dentists check for proper oral and facial development to
determine whether teeth are growing in properly and to detect early tooth decay, says AAPD
president, H. Pitts Hinson, D.D.S. It also gives dentists the chance to walk parents through a
home dental care program for their children.
Early preventive care also is a sound health and economic investment. Some parents avoid taking
children to the dentist to save money, yet studies show that the dental costs for children who have
their first dental visit before age one are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who
do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday.
In addition, without preventive care, the impact of tooth decay on child development can be
striking. Numerous studies have linked childhood cavities with lower than ideal body weight.
Even more disturbing is evidence that the effects of poor oral health may be felt for a lifetime:
Emerging research suggests that improper oral hygiene may increase a child's risk of eventually
having low-birth-weight babies, developing heart disease or suffering a stroke as an adult.
--more--
2
In addition

Message edited 1/11/2009 5:18:04 PM.

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

wow, thanks everyone!

mommyofg--you were especially helpful. thank you for all the great info! now i need to find a ped dentist

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

At our one year appointment, the ped. said to brush them with one of those finger tooth brushes (or a very soft bristle one) and no paste. He said she could wait until between 2 and 3. She currently has 8 teeth.

Re: when did you bring your DC to the dentist for the first time?

I work in a dental ofiice as an asst. Typically the first visit is 2 yrs old.The first visit will be a happy visit, count teeth get the DC used to the surroundings. The Dentist will tell you when the next visit will be. Depends on the childs Home Hygiene care if Cavities already started.

Brush Brush Brush!! They have infant, baby and toddler brushes.