How was your child's first dentist experience.

[Eva Megan]

My kid, 6 years, is mentioning of irregular tooth ache problem, I'm not sure whether he is making excuses or is he suffering for real. Anyways I'm thinking of taking him to our family dentist Dr. Stephen Phelan, Oakville, this week end. I wanted to know whether anyone else had the same experience with their kids at this age?? How was your kid's first visit to the dentist??

[Rachael]

My kids went to the dentist with me for my 6 monthly check-up from the time they were babies in their car seats. Then, as per my dentists recommendations, they had their own check-ups once that first tooth came in. If this is your child's first dental check up, why did you decide to wait so long? They've had teeth for at least 5 years!

As a day care provider, yes, I've seen clients whose children begin school and then have their first dental check ups. Sometimes, that first visit requires two or three cavities need treating.

Typically, (a this is a generalisation), children who are routinely given juice, sugary snacks and/or cereal and children who aren't being flossed, have problems from an early age. Fruit juice, even if watered down, is terrible for teeth.

[Lee-Bee]

My dentist told us the first dentist visit is around age 4. It seemed odd to me so I checked with the pediatric health nurse that visits the playgroups. She said they strongly recommend the first visit around age 1. But that for some reason many parents tell her that their dentists have told them around age 4.

I believe the discrepancy is whether or not the dentist in question tends to see children or adults. If they specialize in children and families then they know the benefits of coming early. If they just mainly see adults they prefer the kids to be old enough to talk and listen!

[Busy ECE mommy]

My kids have had dental visits since they were 6 months old. We did them every 6 months until about 2 yrs, just to see how all of the teeth were coming in. Then we did visits every 9months thereafter, so my kids don't fear the experience now.

[AmandaKDT]

I didn't take my oldest until she has 5 and my youngest just went at 2.5 years old. My oldest made strange really bad as a baby/toddler and I knew she wouldn't let the dentist near her until she was older and grew out of that fear.

The dentist doesn't really do much anyway at such young ages and I had no concerns about their teeth. And the dentist found zero issues with either child's teeth. With my 2 year old daughter the dentist said I didn't need to bring her back until she was 4 years old for another checkup - so not for another 2 years. Waiting until they were older didn't affect their fear of the situation, we made it a positive and exciting experience to get to go to the dentist. They had no reason to be afraid, they hadn't associated dentists with pain (yet anyway!).

[mickyc]

My daughter was 4 when we went. She did fine. The dentist did my check up first, walked her through everything that she was doing on me and then it was her turn. I was just in for a check up not a cleaning. The dentist really just looked at her teeth, poked around with his little pick a bit, told us how she is doing brushing her teeth (I made her brush them all by herself before we went so we knew if she was missing anything). That was it, nothing major.

[Maisie]

I took my daughter first when she was around 2 years old it was just for a check up and she didn't have any problems. The doctor was really nice and she hasn't developed a fear yet like I have.

[Lee-Bee]

My husband and I went for our appointments last week...we overlapped each other so my 23months old spent about 15minutes sitting between my legs as I laid on the table with them cleaning my teeth with all the tools. At first she was a bit weary...but by the time my husband came to get her she was leaning in trying to see closer. The staff and dentist all talked with her and showed her stuff. She has been to all our appointments and had a chance to see everything. She is long due to go herself...the current recommendation is that they have their first appointment by 1yr of age. Our dentist doesn't really do many kids though so they said to come later. I think we will find a pediatric dentist for her and go in the coming months. Better they sit in the chair and have someone touch their teeth when it's not needed then have them go for the first time and actually need something done.

For a 6yr old I would find lots of books and videos and make the child fully aware of what will happen they are old enough to learn beforehand and not be taken by surprise.

[ebhappydc]

Terrible! I should have taken my son a lot younger than the 4 yrs he was as he was extremely orally sensitive; gagging on almost anything at that age. Dentist recommended I take him to specialized dentist for fearful children to give nitrous oxide for cavity fillings. Was a long time ago and he totally outgrew fears now. I say the earlier the better even for just a ride in the chair

Also beware if dentist wants to pull baby teeth inorder to try and help adult teeth come in straighter; I did this upon suggestion of specialist but son needed braces anyway in the end.

[Van]

my son was 3 for his first visit and he liked the dentist and all the visits after that and his picture was on the Happy Smiles/ NO Cavities wall so that was good for him

for your son the books and videos that Leebee suggested is a good idea and to let him play Dentist with dolls and plastic tools and sitting on an office chair may help him before he goes
Good Luck