First dental check ups (Update in comments)

[redfraggle]

DD has hers today. We got a book about going to the dentist and read it a few times this week, and she has gone to my and DS's cleanings as a baby. But I'm still really worried she'll lose it because she's not really into strangers, especially those who want to touch her. I also have to cut her nap short to get there on time, like cut it in half, and she didn't sleep very well last night. In retrospect, I probably should have rescheduled or had her nap in the car while I drove around randomly for an hour and a half, but DS doesn't usually sleep in the car and would get cranky. I plan to hold her in my arms during the exam, and I think the dentist does a balloon as well as a sticker afterward, which I'm sure she will like.

Anyone else taken your LO to the dentist yet? Any tips? (I wish I would have thought to ask yesterday.)

[legitsince86]

I haven't. I got a letter in the mail about doing it but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Hopefully your DD does well!

[junewife]

Am I a bad mom for not having even thought about this yet??

Let us know how it goes!

[carli]

I hadn't given it any thought either. I have an appointment for myself scheduled next week though so I think I'll ask my dentist. She also has her 18 month appointment the same day so I'll see what her Pedi has to say too.

Let us know how she does redfraggle

[RedDDD]

I didn't take DS until he was 2 and even then it was just a Hi Im the Dentist. He sort of opened his mouth but that was about it. I have heard they don't really do an exam or cleaning until they are 3.

[Unknown]

Nope, not even thinking about it. Our babies are to young for such things *tear*

[happymama]

I haven't yet, my dentist said she doesn't need to until 2-3. She has gone with me to the dentist, and she got a balloon, dental floss, and a toothbrush, so the dentist is basically Santa Claus in her book now.

[girlonfire]

I've thought about it but didn't think it was something I'd have to do soon.

[joi922]

We've been talking about this because DS has a lot of teeth, and we figure there's no harm in getting them checked out. Our pedi said sometime between 2 and 3, so we're thinking of taking him in the fall sometime. I'm a little nervous about how he'll react to a stranger poking around in his mouth, so I'm definitely interested to hear about how it went!

[zoly1103]

We went last month and it went fine. They didn't really do much; just sort of looked into his mouth and counted his teeth. It just sort of eased him into going to the dentist. He's going with me to my next appointment in August and he'll get checked out after me.

I had kept forgetting to ask the pedi and my dentist when he should go but my internet research suggested that now would be a good starting point. In my opinion it doesn't hurt to start getting them used to it now so that it becomes more routine as they get older.

[redfraggle]

Here's my update:

Oh boy! I went first out of the 3 of us. I brought them a snack: water in sippy cups, goldfish crackers, and Gogo Squeeze, and then felt the need to tell the hygienist that I wanted to bring a less sugary snack, but I figured this would get the best behavior with the least mess. She laughed and told me not to worry. I also brought a bunch of toys. They were really good, except DS was curious and kept going out of my sight-range and knocked over some expensive-looking equipment with a button and a battery. The hygienist didn't think he broke it, though. And my teeth were fine, except, like usual, my flossing leaves a bit to be desired. I explained what was happening and made excited commentary about the cool safety glasses I got to wear and the neat moving chair. I pointed out how it was just like the book we read. Things were going well!

And then the dentist came in.

DD decided to hug DS and drop her lovey on the floor. (I was glad I remembered the loveys! They were not in my original plan, but I grabbed them when I got the kids up from their naps.) DS did not want a hug. Somehow, DD wound up on the floor crying, though I was assured by the hygienist that she didn't see DS hit or push DD, so I got up to hold her and retrieve the lovey. I thought she would be fine on my lap, but she lost it big time when she saw the dentist was now only inches away. So down she went to the floor, crying, holding her lovey until I was done with the check up. (Believe it or not, this was less upsetting for her than being held.)

Then DS went for his exam, and he acted like he does it every day. He was so good! He kept his mouth open the whole time and let them polish his teeth and floss. I was really impressed! DD sat on my lap but didn't want to watch. I made a big point of commentating about how calm DS was and about what was happening. He got a balloon, 2 stickers, and a pencil (no wonder he likes going!).

DD then had her exam. I held her and her lovey in my lap, and she cried the whole time and tried to bite the dentist. All he did was look in her mouth with the little mirror, which he was very playful with, and count her teeth. Her bottom canines are about half in, and he said they might still be bugging her, which would explain why she was up so much Wed. night. He also said the back molars are all just below the surface, and that she'll probably be cutting them in the near future. She calmed down when she got her balloon, but she only wanted 1 sticker, and I didn't accept the pencil.

So, I would say it went about as I expected. The dentist told me at our September cleaning that the newest recommendation is that toddlers be seen for the first time by age 2, so I don't think anyone is really behind if you are waiting until after our kids' birthdays. He said at this age it is mainly to see that the teeth are growing in properly and that there isn't any disease in the mouth as well as to start the habit of going in for regular cleanings/check ups and get the kid used to the dentist.

[krose]

I took dd about 2 months ago. I called because she has a funky tooth I wanted checked out, but this office recommended coming in at age 1 anyway. They mostly talked with me about good dental habits, but they did do an exam as well. The exam I felt like was a bit much (a hygienist held her head still while the dentist did her thing while LO screamed). Maybe she had to do a bit more to see the tooth, I don't know, but I thought it was too invasive. The dentist recommended X-rays of the tooth in 6 months, but I think we'll probably go somewhere else.

[redfraggle]

Mar 13, 2015 17:59:03 GMT -5 krose said:

I took dd about 2 months ago. I called because she has a funky tooth I wanted checked out, but this office recommended coming in at age 1 anyway. They mostly talked with me about good dental habits, but they did do an exam as well. The exam I felt like was a bit much (a hygienist held her head still while the dentist did her thing while LO screamed). Maybe she had to do a bit more to see the tooth, I don't know, but I thought it was too invasive. The dentist recommended X-rays of the tooth in 6 months, but I think we'll probably go somewhere else.

That sounds awful! I would go somewhere else, too.