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Dentist for baby

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  • 27-10-2015 3:03am
    #1
    madeinamerica
    Registered Users Posts: 787 ✭✭✭


    Hi there

    What are the recommendations you've gotten for when to start bringing your baby to the dentist for a checkup? We live in the US (5 yrs now) where everyone brings their baby to the dentist before they are 1, but I'm not convinced we need to. I think it might be a bit OTT and earlier than necessary. So I'd love to know what the story is at home, and what happens at the visit. My son is just gone 14 months with 8 razor-sharp teeth.

    Thanks a mill!


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    #2
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,240 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Consider at the average American's gobfull of china. Look at the average Irish smile.

    Now. Who should you take dental advice from...?

    :D


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    #3
    monflat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    I think around 2 is the age I took one of mine to dentist.
    But you could take them earlier.


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    #4
    How Strange
    Registered Users Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭How Strange


    My dentist said 3 years is young enough unless there was something specific I was concerned about. I brought my son at 2 as he'd fallen, banged his head and had a black front tooth. I brought him again at 3 and 4 just for a check up so he doesn't associate going to the dentist with pain. So we'll continue like that from now on. I'll start bringing my daughter when she turns 3 in April.


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    #5
    moving_home
    Closed Accounts Posts: 517 ✭✭✭moving_home


    My dentist said 3 aswell.


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    #6
    pwurple
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    I've been bringing mine every six months since they could sit up themselves, just along with me or their dad when we go for a routine checkup. Nothing to do with the teeth in particular, more to get them used to the dentist's chair and someone taking a peek in their mouth when nothing is going on, so they are not afraid of it later. I'm not charged for it or anything.

    Dentist always gives them a sticker for being good, and is super-encouraging about the brushing, sometimes gives them a small toothbrush. I think it's a good habit to get them into.


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    #7
    bp
    Registered Users Posts: 1,731 ✭✭✭bp


    I bring mine with me when I go so the dentist just checks their mouth.....was told bring eldest back when they are three for a proper check up


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    #8
    John Mason
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 10,661 ✭✭✭✭John Mason


    I spoke to my doctor last month about this as I have some concerns about my little boys teeth (spot whites and chips).

    She said there is not point until they are 3 and even then I depends on the child


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    #9
    lazygal
    Registered Users Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    My dentist doesn't see them before two, unless there are specific concerns, and even at that said three is a grand age to bring them in. I have a checkered history with dentists so I don't want any negative associations. My girl will be three and a half for her first check up after Christmas.
    I know I wouldn't get a proper check up with either of them wriggling on my lap so I haven't brought them with me. I'll probably hold them for their check ups to get them used to it.


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    #10
    IvyTheTerrible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭IvyTheTerrible


    My paediatrician said 3 is early enough unless there is something specific you're worried about.


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    #11
    madeinamerica
    Registered Users Posts: 787 ✭✭✭madeinamerica


    Great, thanks for the replies!

    I just did a similar poll of a moms google group in my city here and surprisingly the consensus seems to be at least 2 yrs even with official recommendations of 1 yr. The 1 yr visit seems to be more to get the baby acquainted with the dentist visit rather than to do anything.

    endacl wrote: »
    Consider at the average American's gobfull of china. Look at the average Irish smile.

    Now. Who should you take dental advice from...?

    :D

    Ha! :D You'd think so but in my experience the average american does not have TV-star teeth and, given the healthcare system, they are more likely to pay through the nose for not-necessarily-needed treatments. So I've a healthy skepticism of these recommendations ;)


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    #12
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,905 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Do ye just bring your kids to the normal dentist? I've never brought my little boy, and he's just turned 4. :(


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    #13
    lazygal
    Registered Users Posts: 12,644 ✭✭✭✭lazygal


    Yes, I have a lovely dentist who'll see mine. Some specialise in children's dentistry.


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    #14
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    John Mason wrote: »
    I spoke to my doctor last month about this as I have some concerns about my little boys teeth (spot whites and chips).

    She said there is not point until they are 3 and even then I depends on the child

    Watch out for this. Our little guy has the same and it turns out his teeth are hypermineralised. They have patches with no enamel. He ended up with an extraction last year and got the rest of them sealed.

    We brought him because we noticed a dark patch on one of his teeth, I don't think we would have had we not.

    We go to a specialised children's dentist in Galway and it's no more expensive than any other dentist, but he has no qualms about going in. Even for the extraction he had, the dentist put him at total ease. I suppose I was worried because I remember an early dental visit with the health board I had and I'm still traumatised!


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    #15
    ForestFire
    Registered Users Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭ForestFire


    Das Kitty wrote: »

    We go to a specialised children's dentist in Galway and it's no more expensive than any other dentist, but he has no qualms about going in. Even for the extraction he had, the dentist put him at total ease. I suppose I was worried because I remember an early dental visit with the health board I had and I'm still traumatised!

    I wouold be interested to know the dentist you use for your children in Galway. Our daughter in 28 months now I would like to start bring her soon to get familure with the process. Can you PM me the details? Thanks


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    #16
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    ForestFire wrote: »
    I wouold be interested to know the dentist you use for your children in Galway. Our daughter in 28 months now I would like to start bring her soon to get familure with the process. Can you PM me the details? Thanks

    Here it is:

    http://www.dentistryforkids.ie/


    Give them a shout.


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    #17
    monflat
    Registered Users Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    It depends on what's in the area. There's specialist paediatric dentists but I brought my little one to the dentist I go to.
    Depends on how costly it is too though as I would shop around


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    #18
    How Strange
    Registered Users Posts: 6,339 ✭✭✭How Strange


    I bring my son to our dentist who charges half the adult rate. I looked up a few paediatric dentists in South Dublin/Dublin City and they were much more expensive.


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    #19
    tinkerbell
    Registered Users Posts: 6,423 ✭✭✭tinkerbell


    I've been told from the age of 1 year from a paediatric dentist.


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    #20
    Neyite
    Administrators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,947 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Neyite


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    I suppose I was worried because I remember an early dental visit with the health board I had and I'm still traumatised!

    God, those HSE dentists! Ours was a very gruff impatient bloke who had no rapport whatsoever with children. My mother has a dentist phobia from her childhood and she hated even just bringing us and was very jumpy and nervous which totally rubbed off on us so the whole process was a nightmare!


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    #21
    Roselm
    Registered Users Posts: 753 ✭✭✭Roselm


    John Mason wrote: »
    I spoke to my doctor last month about this as I have some concerns about my little boys teeth (spot whites and chips).

    She said there is not point until they are 3 and even then I depends on the child

    I think I would ask the dentist myself rather than relying on doctor's opinion.


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