https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:37:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775970 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:40:49 +0000 SweetiePie 2775970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our first appt was 2years as well. That’s what my ped recommended.<br /> First appt they counted his teeth and brushed them. That was pretty much it. It was mostly getting him comfortable in the office and getting to know the doc. And info for me (dental care, education, etc).<br /> All in all was pretty short, I’d say maybe 20 mins? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775968 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:37:09 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2775968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I hear you...and I've had to do the same, but I wouldn't expect them to restrain them or make me sign a waiver...that seems excessive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775569 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:33:05 +0000 snowjewelz 2775569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think our first visit was around 18 mo and it was fine. She generally doesn't like being touched by other people so it wasn't the best. Her 2nd visit around 2 was worse since they gave her a teeth cleaning and she was not happy! That reminds me to make her another appt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775561 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:17:51 +0000 Anagram 2775561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: My kids both got a cleaning at their first visit, which is when they were about 15 months. My oldest daughter had some staining on her front teeth from iron drops, so I asked for a cleaning. For my second kid, I fully expected them to say a cleaning wasn't necessary, but they actually said she had a lot of plaque buildup already, so I had them do a cleaning and a fluoride treatment.</p> <p>My husband has very soft teeth, and I worry my girls have inherited that. He's had a lot of cavities, so I want to do as much preventative stuff as possible. Our dentist is a pediatric dentist and really gentle and makes it "fun", and that always worked for my oldest (she's obsessed with the dentist, which is a good thing, because she had a big fall and damaged 4 teeth and has had multiple dentist appointments related to that). However, none of the tricks work on my 2nd, and I had to hold her on top of me in the dentist chair (I was reclined) and I had to hold her arms folded while they did the cleaning.</p> <p>It was like....60 seconds of crying. But it was worth it to me to (hopefully) prevent some cavities from forming. They also showed me the spots where her teeth already touch and showed me where I already need to be flossing.</p> <p>Also, she isn't added to our insurance yet. To add her, we have to pay $30/month. A cleaning/exam costs $150. so right now, it's cheaper to just pay out of pocket for 2 cleanings a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775414 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:50:45 +0000 Littlebit7 2775414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: well I've technically had to "restrain" my 2.5 year old at all of her dental<br /> visits or else they would have accomplished nothing. By that I mean me in the chair, and holding her. Or her sitting on my lap facing out and holding her arms/head. She won't have anything to do with the dentist. I mean, I have to "restrain" her at the doctor sometimes but what other option is there? She's not going to willingly hold out her arm for a blood draw or open her mouth for a stranger to stick an instrument in. And yes we've done books, Daniel tiger, etc etc and the dentists office is legit prepared for toddlers...but nope..she just won't. But skipping the dentist just isn't an option imo..at any age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775412 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:40:18 +0000 mdf106 2775412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They did a cleaning, but we did not go until three. This is what was recommended by both our pediatrician and dentist. I intentionally waited to add him to the dental insurance until then. It went fine, but he has never had trouble at the doctor. We used our regular dentist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775363 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:34:14 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2775363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took ds around 2 because one tooth looked grey. He damaged it but they said it was fine. I took him for a cleaning when he turned three. He got super nervous so they didn't want to scare him. So she counted his teeth, gave him stickers and said to come back in the fall (aka now). I've got to get that booked. He says he will cooperate, fingers crossed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775343 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:30:25 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2775343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: Holy cow...restrain their kids? Why traumatize them?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775342 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:29:16 +0000 KT326 2775342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 15 months and basically it was just looking in his mouth and counting teeth until he was 3. He wouldn't let them do anything else. The first few appointments we didn't even get to the chair, it was in the dentist's office. At 3 he went to the chair but no cleaning. At 3.5 he had his first cleaning and it went really well! He is 5 now and I think they might try x-rays at his next appointment but since none of his teeth touch the dentist isn't pushing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775336 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:17:05 +0000 RonjaL7 2775336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 2.5 and has been to the dentist twice. Both times she has refused to open her mouth. So they basically did whatever they could to get her to laugh and got a quick glance at her teeth. They told us this time maybe we wait another year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775328 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:02:38 +0000 PawPrints 2775328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It can vary a lot based on the practice, so I would call and ask specifically what to expect. Our first dental exam was at 14 months and they called it a "chair ride," and emphasized they would only do as much as DD was willing to let them do, up to and including a cleaning (which they did). By contrast, people in my local parenting groups apparently have had to sign a release form permitting the dentist to restrain their kids in order to complete whatever they were going to do, so I would definitely just ask.</p> <p>We did a second dental visit when DD was about 26 months and it was another great experience, they did a cleaning again and she was fine with it.</p> <p>We prepped DD a lot by explaining to her what was going to happen both in advance and while we were there, so she wasn't too surprised, and I think that helped a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775324 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:48:09 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2775324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our oldest didn't have his first dental appointment until he was 3. It's what our dentist kept telling us was the age you take your kid to the dentist. We got there, and got scolded by the pediatric dentist that it was supposed to be at age 1. Oops! </p> <p>It was pretty easy since he was older. They counted his teeth and brushed them. We took our younger son around 18 months, and he did ok...wasn't as willing to open his mouth and cried quite a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775312 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:13:32 +0000 LBee 2775312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>His first dentist appointment was a 2 years old. Same experience as @Adira. It was mainly to familiarize him. He did has some build-up on the bottom of his teeth (we pointed it out as my husband had noticed it) and he scraped it off for us. All in all it was no big deal. </p> <p>My son has visited the dentist twice without dental insurance FYI. Our medical insurance covers the trip with a $25 copay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775305 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:47:31 +0000 Adira 2775305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours basically just counted his teeth and then brushed them! It was pretty quick and very easy. They don't do a real cleaning or anything more invasive until they are older (at least at ours). They also just talked to us about good dental habits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-dentist-visit#post-2775297 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:34:39 +0000 raspberries 2775297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What did they do at your child's first dentist visit, and how did it go? Due to lack of foresight (ah-hem, by my husband), our son wasn't added to our dental insurance until he was 2. He's 2 years and 2 months now, and we've just made his first dentist appointment... wondering what to expect? </p>