When Should I Take My Son to the Dentist?

Hubby and I were at the dentist yesterday. Our son is 2 1/2. The dentist said that he would wait until Zack was 3 before he'd put him in the chair and check his teeth up close. For now, they just ask him to smile, look at his teeth, and give him a toothbrush. They said our son is still to young to sit still and too young to understand what a dentist does, much less to take orders when they tell him what to do. They prefer actual check ups once he can communicate with them better and when he will understand what they are teling him they are going to do. For now, they just count teeth, make sure he isn't afraid of them. They said to just bring him in when we come (hubby and I both get our visits on the same day so we take turns watching him) and let him get to know the dentist.

I have read that you should take your child to the dentist for the first time as early as one year old, but when I called my dentist to schedule an appt. for my 2 year old daugher, I was told they didn't see children until age 3. This dentist used to see only children, so I guess it just depends on the earliest age your dentist will see children.

Our pediatrician took a look at our sons teeth at his 15 month check up and verified that there were no cavities. She talked to us to make sure we weren't putting him to bed with a bottle and that we were brushing his teeth everyday. I don't expect to make his first dentist appointment until he's 3.

E.

I'd do it now. We didn't take our son to the dentist until he was about 16 months - when we noticed some discoloration on his teeth. Turned out that he had cavities in EIGHT of his teeth, and there was no way he could sit still for all that dental work. We decided on general anesthesia for him - not a fun thing for anyone. I wish we had taken him to the dentist at a year; maybe we could done something preventative. This probably won't happen with most children. We believe he had faulty enamel on those teeth. But it doesn't hurt to check early.

It depends where you live. In parts of Illinois the dentist will see the child as soon as he/she has teeth. In Lafayette, Indiana it's difficult to find a dentist that will see a three year old. Look around for a dentist that sees mostly children and see how old they will start. At that age, the cleanings will be done with a regular tooth brush anyway and they can't do x-rays of the teeth because a baby that young doesn't know how to hold still much less keep the film in his mouth. You can pretty much just tend to his teeth yourself at that age. Then once the child is 3 if you put him in head start, there's a mobile dentist that usually goes around there...and the mobile dentist does see 3 year olds and up.

A. W I have two daughters I took my oldest when she was a little over 2 years old and she is almost 6 now and she loves going to the denist. My 3 yr old I just took a few months ago and she did not real good but that could be because all she goes through she has Cystic Fibrosis. I take the, over to Pediatric Dental Specialist and they see Dr.Pate and they they are just great.

Mandie~

Take him now. Most family dentists will tell you not until age 3, but if you ask your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist, they will tell you by the 1st birthday. I waited until just a few weeks ago (My son turned 2 in Feb) and he has cavities in all four of his front top teeth!! I would recommend just for a check up, take him now. You can always wait to have a cleaning until he is older. You will have to see a ped. dentist though, most family dentist will not even take them for an appt until they are 3, and if there is a problem, they'll refer you to a ped anyway!!

Some people say when they get their first tooth, but really, it depends on when you feel you need to. Then find a dentist that takes them at that age... Some dentists won't take kids until they are 3, but some take them at 1.

If your son has all of his teeth it is a god idea to start taking him now. I asked my sons dentist the samething and he said he recommends taking them when they get thier first tooth, but to me that's just to young. Waiting until a child is 3 or 4 can cause problems. I was brushing my sons teeth for him and when I took him in @ age 4 he had 6 cavities. They were so small I didn't even notice them. A pediatric dentist is best for a child that young. If you are in Kokomo Dr. Johnson is great. He's very gentle and my son loves going to him.

I asked my dentist. He told me about three years old, but I would suggest that you ask your dentist, too.

A little about me:

I'm a first time mom. I am thirty five with a two year old. New to the area.

Our dentist see's them at 12 months. It's usually very quick and a great way to get the used to going! My girls never want to leave! LOL

My brother in law is a pediatric dentist. There is a sign in his office that says "1st Brthday = 1st Checkup". They recommend you bring them in when the turn one.

Around a year or so is good from what I hear, though I just took my 6yo and 3yo last week for the first time (no cavities,yay). When they go in for their next cleaning in six months, I have my baby scheduled to go in as well- she'll be 17 months then.

We saw Dr. Kyle Taylor in Bloomington, he does pediatrics only, and he was really great. All the staff work really well with children and my kids were at ease the whole time. They loved the goodie bags they received at the end too- the highlight was a fun toothbrush that looks like a Crayola marker. ;)

My dentist said 2 and 1/2 as long as you're brushing their teeth well.

Personally, I would wait. I think it is really an appointment that is unnecessary which is what my dentist confirmed. If you can see in his mouth and it does'nt look like there are problems and he isn't complaining about anything and you are brushing daily, I would wiat until he is about 3-4 yearsold.

I took my daughter the first time when she was one year, I just took her as a check up just to make sure all of her teeth were coming in as planned. She had most of her teeth before she saw the dentist and they said that it is a good idea to start your child early with a dentist. She sees the dentist every 6 months. A pediatric dentist is best for children.

It really depends on the dentist. The dentist I had for my oldest child said he took kids at 3. I recently moved and started a new dentist who takes kids as early as 18 months, although it is not much more than a check at that age.

I just took my daughter to the dentist for the first time. Don't feel bad, I had to call a dentist and ask them what age you are supposed to take your children for the first time! It is at 3 years of age that you're to take them for their first visit. Hope I was able to help!

Hi there,
I called a Dentist about my 17 month old and they told me they usually see them when they are two unless they *the child* are having problems.
Hope that helps

I took my son when he was 12 months, but they really didn't do anything with him. I think it is safe to take them when they get older, and get most of their teeth.

Most pediatric dentists will tell you there is no need for a child under 2 years old to see the dentist unless they have a cavity. If you are really concerned I would call a pediatric dentist and ask them.