When Do We Go to the Dentist?

The ADA recommends around their first birthday - whether they have teeth or not. However, many dentists won't see kids until they are three years old when they can cooperate. If you feel it necessary to take him in earlier, then I recommend you find a very good pediatric dentist who's used to working on smaller children as opposed to a family dentist.

I took my kids in at around 2yrs - just to get acquainted. The dentist "counted" their teeth showed them what an x-ray looked like, had them sit in the chair and let it go up and down. The whole appointment took about 10 minutes. Then the next time we went in, 6mos later, he "counted" the teeth again and did a bit of cleaning - again, just to get them used to it. Then by the time they were 3, he was able to do full cleanings on my kids with no hassle at all. I wouldn't worry yet, just call your dentist and see what their policy is.

Hi S.,
I am a dentist and this is what we are taught in school regarding a first visit. It should be within 6 months of getting the first tooth. This allows the dentist an opportunity to make certain there are no problems to catch/prevent and also a great chance for parents to see what techniques work well and what is appropriate for your child.

I read in another post that it was recommended to wait until age 3...ABSOLUTELY NOT! This may be the dentist's preference but not in the best interest of the child patient. A pediatric dentist or a general dentist that can handle young kids knows that age three is often way too late and big problems CAN already be in place. This leads to unpleasant and costly visits for both the child and the parents.

Early visits are so important. They establish a trust between the patient/parents/and dentist that will last a lifetime.

Hope this helps and keep up the good work with brushing!

Dr G.

My pediatrician told me that 1 yr was the time to start. When I took my daughter the first time, the dentist did just a visual exam and let me stay with her. And then talked to me about what I should and shouldn't do. And it was only $25.
The next time they did a more through exam and didn't let me go. Nervous mama was waiting impatiently in the waiting room. When they finally called me back, she had stuff in each hand and had been very well taken care of. And didn't start to cry until she seen me. LOL how silly kids are.
Thats been my experience.
TRUDI

Our dentist told us that it really isn't necessary before 3 years old, unless there is a concern or problem. At 3 yrs. they can go in for a "get acquainted" visit so that they can see what it's all about, and if the dentist can check their teeth, s/he will. Most kids won't sit still for a cleaning until at least 3 or 4 years old. If you are brushing/cleaning your baby's teeth, I wouldn't worry about a dentist visit for a couple of years.

You have to be careful because although the suggested age is usually 2yrs, some insurance companies will not pay for children under 3 or even older. We had this problem after we took her at age 2.

I took mine when they were about 3 1/2. I think anywhere between 3 and 4 is fine.

My daughter started going at 1 1/2 or so. We found a great pediatric dentist. Check w your insurance beforehand to see what exactly is/isn't covered. Most companies cover 100% of the visit every 6 months. At this age, the dentist usually doesn't do anything major: just looks inside their mouth, notices new teeth coming in, etc. I think that it is a good idea to bring him in now, esp if he loves getting his teeth brushed. The dentist may also give you tips on what to look for in new teeth popping up and tarter areas, etc.

They say once their first tooth appears, for both of my kids I started around 16 mos even though they had tons of teeth before that. I wanted them both to be able to follow instructions and sit well first. The earlier you expose them the less likely will there by any fears and they will actually enjoy the dentist. Both of my kids LOVE the dentist and they are four and almost seven!!!
If he has a few teeth, go for it if you think he will sit well and can follow instructions, I would say probably closer to his first bday though as 9 mos is really young.

We had one dentist who just checked if the kids came in with us, and then sent us to a Ped. dentist at 2. Our current ped. dentist prefers 3 since you can actually work with them unless there are concerns. He checked out our little guy at 18 months because he takes a lot of oral meds and inhalers. The dentist said that 3 is fine for most kids unless there are concerns or lack of care. Sounds like your doing fine. My kids had teeth at 3 1.5 and 4 months and both had everything including molars by 15 months, so their teeth had a lot of exposure. Brushing has kept them just fine. Also, not sharing utensils and such as cavities are contagious. That has been confirmed for me by 3 different dentists.

I have read that the ADA is recommending you go as early as a year, as other posters have mentioned. You may need to look around to find a dentist willing to see your son that young.

I decided to wait until around age 3, as my own dentist recommended. While I'm waiting, I do keep an eye on her teeth. I've been told to look for any white spots on the teeth as a potential sign of bacterial activity. Brushing her teeth each night is also important. (Unfortunately my daughter's not that fond of the tooth brushing.)