Berkeley Parents Network: Dentist for 18 month old?

Berkeley Parents Network

Dentist for 18 month old?

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Health & Medical > Dentists > Dentist for 18 month old?

March 2004

I'm confused - I've read that the American Dental Assoc recommends that children see a dentist at around 1 year - but I've called several and found they don't take children this young, and all the posts I reviewed on the site referred to first visits at around the 2.5 - 3 year old range. Has anyone taken their 12 - 24 month child in for a check-up, and if so, where? Thank you

I asked my dentist about this...when my daughter was about 2 y.o. He said she should come in when she feels comfortable around him and the setting. She's 2 1/2 now and hasn't been yet. I'm not really worried about it. I have an appt. next week in which I will take her to to get the feel of it, and she's old enough now to understand what's happening. If she's up for it, great, if not, we'll try again when she's 3.

We took my daughter at 3 years, and the dentist was delighted to see her then, and not at all upset that we waited that long. No dentist I spoke with wanted to see her much earlier than that. I think that as long as you are brushing your kid's teeth (that young, I think we just brushed with a wet brush, no paste of any kind, not even the flouride-free kind) and vigilant about no juice/milk right before sleep, you can relax. On the other hand, if there are signs of decay or pain because of teeth (outside of teething pain, of course!), an earlier visit to the dentist might be warranted. Good Luck-- Donna L.

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