When Did You Start Taking Your Little One(s) to the Dentist?

I took my kids to the dentist when they were 2 to 2 1/2. this worked out great. kids are now 19 and 13. no cavaties, no problems. We just went to the regular family dentist.

My ped said he recommends parents start sometime between 2 and 3 yrs old. He said it all depends on the child. He bases his suggestions on how the child does at his/her regular doctor appointments. We go to a pediatric dentist who is wonderful. The whole office is fantastic. They takes TONS of time with each child, and let them hold/play with all the equipment to relieve any fears. I started at 2, and my daughter was just fine.

My daughter's doctor recommended that I take her when she turns three because then they have all their teeth in. He explained that as long as she/we are brushing her teeth and not eating a lot of sweets, she should be fine to go at three years of age. She had her first appointment right after her third birthday and did great with the dentist. She was extremely calm and did a great job of letting the hygienist look in her mouth and clean her teeth. Both the hygienist and dentist were great with her so I think that helped a great deal.

I just took my 18 month old to the dentist along with my 5yr.old. It went great I found a pediactric dentist in Joliet. They are absolutly wonderful. I took my soon last year at 4yrs. for his kindergarten physical(to a regular dentist that does children, but not pediatric) and it was a horrible, bad,bad,bad experience, he actually threw up with the floride. He just had to have a tooth pulled at our new pediatric dentist and it went great no problems what so ever and he also has to have 2 cavities fixed and I don't anticipate any problems becaue they are so wonderful(sorry I can't say enough about them)I think you get the picture. Anyway for my 18 month old they did a light cleaning with a toothbrush and showed me how to brush her teeth and go over EVERYTHING with you. They also told me that as soon as they start getting teeth is when they should start going at least just to look at them and make sure everything is doing what it's supposed to. So in my opinion take her now and let her get used to the idea and definately go to a pediatric dentist, it's a huge difference. I can give you the info for mine if you would like, just send me a message and Good luck!!

I just took my 4 year old. All they did was a mild brushing, flossing and counted the teeth. She loved it. I was impressed that the dentist did everything not the hygentist. Also, I do know that your pediatician should also be checking your childs teeth during regular exams. If they aren't, you should ask them to.

We started taking our children to the dentist when they were toddlers. When they are that young they can see that it is not scary to go to the dentist. When both kids were about 3 or 4 y.o. The dentist started looking at their teeth. My son who is 4 just had a minor filling done to one of his teeth. I think 2 y.o. is the right age to start taking them to the dentist.

We head to our first appt next week with my four year old. My dentist said three or four because that's when most of their teeth are in? I don't know that it matters too much if your child is ready. Mine has recently gone to my appt and his sister's appt to see what happens and now he is excited!

I have twin girls, almost 11 years old now. They started coming with me to the dentist when they were around 2, and at the end of my visit they would go for a "ride" in the chair, and the dentist looked in their mouths and "counted" teeth. By the time it was ready to start the twice a year teeth cleaning, my girls were not afraid of the dntist, and actually looked forward to it. Our dentist has some large stuffed animals in the rooms, TV/DVD available for kids to watch, and they get to pick a "prize" from a jar when they are through. Both of my girls has something called a frenectomy (probably not spelled correctly) done when their 2 front baby teeth were gone, before the permanent ones came in - I was amazed at how well they did having stitches in their mouths like that at age 5. I'd say it's good to start going early just to get the kids used to it. If they start only once they have some sort of problem, it wouldn't be a positive first experience.

I started taking my daughter at 2 only because I have horrible teeth and I wanted to make sure my daughter had good dental habits and that everything was fine with her. At that age it is just checking their teeth to make sure there are no problems and that they are all coming in fine. They don't actually clean them or anything until they are about 3 1/2 or 4. If your daughter drinks a lot of sugary juices or eats sticky stuff like raisins etc, it may be a good idea to take her to make sure all that stuff is getting cleaned out and not causing problems. My niece had to have 3 cavaties filled because she ate a lot of raisins and wasn't cleaning well enough between her teeth.

I also wanted to make sure she was comfortable with the dentist and she does fine. Because we have changed insurances 4 times and moved, she has actually never seen the same dentist twice, but she does great no matter where she goes.

We took our son for the first time just before his 3rd birthday, because that's when our dentist recommended. Our son's pre-school also had a dentist visit the kids and talk to them about dental health, beginning in the 3-year old class.

Hi Tammy...I read a few of the responses and I agree w/ everyone that it is a good idea for your child to get used to the chair and tools. I just wanted to add a little something that I have learned w/ my own kids and w/ my daycare children...if your daughter seems at all resistant or scared, don't push it, just try again in 6 months or so. Forcing her into it will make her more scared and not want to go at all. She is young enough now, that it won't hurt much to wait it out. My son had a very hard time in the beginning. Very resistant and we ended up skipping a year before going again. It really helps to find a good, patient pediatric dentist (we just have a family dentist and the tech was not kid friendly!) He is 8 now and does great and is actually going to be getting braces on this summer due to an accident to his mouth 2 yrs ago...story for another day! So, good luck! I'm sure things will go smoothly and she will do just fine!

We first took our daughter when she was 3. We took her when my husband and I had an appointment so she watched me first and then sat in the chair (on my lap) while the dentist showed her the tools and what they do and it went very well.

I am taking my little one here in a few weeks, he will be 27 months old. He has been to the office several times and has met the dentist so it shouldn't be too scary for him. I think the first appointment usually involves meeting the dentist, seeing the exam room, sitting in the chair, and if it works a quick peak in the mouth and at the teeth.

Our dentist said around 3 just to get my girls used to being looked at. But, it's really not necessary unless there's really something going on (like buck teeth or teeth not coming in properly like way high on the gums, or if theyr'e not taken care of every day). When I go in the fall for my own routine check up I'll bring my girls just to have them sit on my lap and have him look in there. No biggie. He doesn't even charge for that b/c nine times out of ten it's just to get them used to the environment and having someone look in their mouths.

I highly recommend you take her to the dentist that young. I had a lot of people suggest it to me when my son was that little, and I followed their advice.

Thank Heaven I did!

When my son was at preschool, he fell into a bookshelf and bashed his mouth into the shelf. He looked as if he were hit in the mouth with a baseball bat. I rushed him straight to the dentist. He was bruised, bleeding and teeth looked very loose. Fortunately, my son was already familiar with the dentist, so he wasn't afraid of him, in spite the pain he was in. He willingly let the dentist inspect his sore mouth and take xrays. (There were loose teeth, and terrible bruising, but nothing serious and no permanent damage.) My son has no fear of the dentist, and LOVES going (unlike his dental-phobic mother - eek!). Even after that painful ordeal as a toddler, he has no negative impression of the dentist at all. And the dentists we've visited keep toys on hand in the waiting room, and offer to let him choose a toy from a treasure chest before he leaves. Although, honest to God, my son is more thrilled with the new toothbrush and floss they give him than the toy they let him choose. You can't beat that!

Hi, Tammy. Looks like most people started around the same time. I took my kids at around 3. My youngest, I took in a little earlier, maybe 2. I went to a pediatric dentist in Crystal Lake and for the first checkup, he had her sit on my lap, facing me, and then she laid back with her head on his legs. He counted her teeth and looked at them all. It was a great experience for her, and very comfortable. Then, when I took her back, wa short time later for a cleaning, they took her back all by herself. I don't think she loved that, but she is 4 now and is just great with going. I think it can be scry at first, but eventually, they get used to it. Good luck.

I took my son at three and was planning the same for my twins. I usually had them in the office with me when I had my teeth cleaned (not much choice, no one to watch them). That worked out great because from a young age they could watch and see what was happening to me and that it all was ok. I happen to see a free checkup mobile truck at a fair and decided that was perfect for a first visit. Just to get them used to the idea of a hand in their mouth. The twins were 2 1/2. The dentist noticed a slight bruise above one of their teeth that I never even saw. Wound up having a root canal by the time she was three! Unusual situation, but if I had waited until she was three, I would probably have lost that tooth. Just a quick check early on might prevent some unforseen problems. I had them lay on me while I was in the chair. It helped calm them down and give them a sense of security.

I took my son to the dentist for the first time when he was 3 years old. You'd be surprised the things the dentist will tell you even though your child is small. My son got familiar with the tools used, the suction tube, the scraper thingee etc. The hygienest that we had was fabulous. She played with the dental instruments and had my son help count how many teeth he had, she had kiddie names for each tool. Afterwards my son got to pick a toy out of a toy box for being a good patient. He also got a fun toothbrush and sponge bob square pants toothpaste. The dentist stressed to my son the importance of brushing. Funny how they listen to someone else but not mom.

I haven't taken my kids yet, but plan to this year (they're 3.5 yo and 15 mos). Our day care sent home a thing saying that kids born in/before '03 (I believe, I have to check that date) will be required to have a dental and an eye check prior to enrolling in pre-k or Kindy. I know it's becoming a requirement at some time soon, I just forget the age that they will be required to have had these check ups. Illinois offers free eye exams to children up to 12 months, I know that much.

I first tried to take my son to our dentist when he was 3, and it did not turn out well. He was terrified of the hygienist and wouldn't let her clean his teeth. He at least opened his mouth for the dentist to look in, but we didn't get any brushing or cleaning done there. At 3.5, I took him to a pediatric dentist and he did great. Maybe he just needed to be 1) a little older, and 2) with a dentist who was geared toward kids.