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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

Do you have a child over 4 who has never been to the dentist? Please be honest.

30 replies

whippet · 19/01/2009 22:13

I was reading something recently about the high % of primary school children in some areas who have never ever been to a dentist.

If this applies to you/ your children, would you be willing to explain why?

It's not intended to be a witch-hunt - am just generally interested in what prevents people from taking their kids....

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scrooged · 19/01/2009 22:17

I take ds. Maybe the parents have had bad experiences as children and don't want to subject their children to this.

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cat64 · 19/01/2009 22:18

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honeybunmum · 19/01/2009 22:19

I haven't taken my DC ( almost 5, 2 and 8mths) to a dentist yet. I keep thinking I ought to take DD1 but being at school and having 2 other DC I haven't had the time. ( poor I know) Anyway she came home from school with a letter regarding a survey of dental services and teeth in our area and there is going to be a dentist and nurse examining them at school in a couple of weeks. They are going to advise us if they find anything. I always check their teeth at brushing time and wouldn't hesitate to go if I has any concerns.

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cheesesarnie · 19/01/2009 22:19

nope.my 3 year old has sat in seat twice.all 3 went from early to get used to sounds,smells etc.from weeny carseat size baby.

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Stretch · 19/01/2009 22:20

My DD didn't go until she was 5 1/2. Mainly because there wasn't an NHS dentist with spaces!

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lisalisa · 19/01/2009 22:21

I have 5 kids and to my eternal shame sometimes long periods of time gio by during which I forget to go to the dentist with them. They all went in Jan just now before which sept 08. Before that it was about a year ago or perhaps a little bit more . All of them definately went thoguh for the firwst time before their fourth birthday. Ds aged 3.2 has been twice < puts back her good mummy sticker which had fallen off >

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devientenigma · 19/01/2009 22:22

Hi, I have a son who is nearly 8 years old. He has been to the dentist on numerous occassions, however no one can get a look inside his mouth. He has never brushed his teeth, which is really worrying due to heart condition and risk of endochartitis. He is down syndrome and has sensory processing disorder among others.

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TheSirenOfTheCupcake · 19/01/2009 22:24

I've never taken mine. She is nearly 5. I know i should, but as we are abroad, I am stupidly nervous about it.

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whippet · 19/01/2009 22:29

Do all children get dental check at school? I don't remember it happening for mine (now 6 & 9).

But it might just have been another of the many forms I processed....

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morocco · 19/01/2009 22:32

mine went once when they were 4 and 3 and haven't been back. we had to wait 2 hours to see the dentist. I was there with them and a small baby as well and it was hell. the dentist spent approx 2 minutes altogether looking at their teeth. goodness only knows how she managed to be running so late - certainly not through individual attention to her clients.

I'll take them back in a year or so once more permanent teeth come through

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stillenacht · 19/01/2009 22:33

I havent' taken mine he is 5 and a half almost but he has severe autism so i think he would prob bite off dentists fingers as he doesn't understand 'no'.I don't think you can get him to open his mouth without force either - to clean his teeth i have to force the brush in for a quick once over.

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stillenacht · 19/01/2009 22:34

haven't

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Yurtgirl · 19/01/2009 22:34

Yep - My children first went to the dentist aged 6 3/4 and 4

Why? difficulty getting them registered, difficulty gettting me registered at the same practice for convienance (sp?)

Ds finds all interferance with his body very difficult so I had to talk calmly to him throughout - we are going again next month for their 2nd visit. arggggggggghhhhhhhhh!

FWIW the dentist said their teeth were absolutely fine!!!!
If I had thought their would be a problem I would of course have tried harder to take them earlier, thankfully all was fine

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n5rje · 19/01/2009 22:35

I don't think children do get checked at school, at least mine don't. I have always taken mine to the dentist with me and they have been checked since they started to have teeth but I know people who don't and I know a 6 yo with fillings. I think it depends on your own childhood - for many years I thought going to the dentist was compulsory and it wouldn't occur to me not to take my own DCs. If you can't find a dentist for yourself though I can't see how you could take your children.

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fryalot · 19/01/2009 22:37

When we moved to Yorkshire in 2000 I started trying to find a dentist.

We finally managed to get one last year so dd2 and ds had someone look at their teeth for the first time ever.

Dd2 was 4 and ds was almost 3 at the time.

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Greatsweetkittyothepuddingrace · 19/01/2009 22:40

DD1 is 4 1/2 and been twice, I know it's good to get them used to it so they don't have my fears but she jumped in the seat, dentist looked in her mouth and said "oh lovely clean teeth and that was that"

Am taking DD2 in April when she will be 3

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cat64 · 19/01/2009 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

whippet · 19/01/2009 22:46

Yes, I guess for most people it depends if it's a habit the parents already have established - cleaning teeth/ looking after teeth.

From what I read there's an obvious correlation between areas of high deprivation and low levels of dentist visits for children.

It's really sad though - I saw a horrific pic of a three year old child with all her teeth decayed .

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Tidgypuds · 19/01/2009 22:48

Yes both mine been since their first teeth came through and every 6 months since age 7 and 4.

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CharleeinChains · 19/01/2009 22:50

My son went to the dentist for the firs time when he was 4 last year, there were no dentists around, i went with him for my first apt in over 10 yrs for the same reason.

DS2 not yet seen one and he is 2 there are no spaces at ds1's dentist so i am thinking of giving him mine if they will let me. I wont be going back anyway (except to take ds1) as the woman is a brutal cowbag who not so secretly hates my teeth.

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Rachmumoftwo · 19/01/2009 23:00

To make you all feel better, my 2 girls have been going to the dentist from a very young age, I am totally anal about sugar and brushing of teeth and they have had fillings due to poorly formed enamel. So you can't win!

There are lots of NHS dentists in Somerset but they are rubbish so I have paid for myself to go private and my children get a decent dentist for free!

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SixSpot · 19/01/2009 23:01

If you are scrupulous about cleaning your child's teeth and NEVER let them go to bed without a clean mouth, you don't let them have juice from a bottle, or lots of fizzy drinks or sweets, then the chances are that their teeth will be fine. I really don't think there's any need to fret about dental check-ups too early if you know you are looking after their teeth properly.

Mine were not looked after at all and several of my baby teeth rotted away and were replaced by adult teeth which also rotted away. The pain was horrible and I had huge abcesses on my gums. So looking after the DSs teeth is an article of faith with me.

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whippet · 19/01/2009 23:03

What's the advice about not rinsing after cleaning - but just spitting toothpaste out? What's that all about then?

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jennifersofia · 19/01/2009 23:07

I think mine have been once (7 & 6 yrs old). To be perfectly honest, I don't really see the point as they had baby teeth, which all looked and felt okay and were brushed regularly. Also, my dentist is private, and I didn't fancy forking out £30 per kid for a 10 minute look around, and we aren't registered with an NHS dentist (don't even know if we can now).

Now that my eldest has some adult teeth we will go more regularly - how often is it good to go?

Tis disturbing to see young children with rotten teeth. In my first Y1 class, I had about 30% of children with black teeth, and children occasionally taken out of school to have teeth pulled

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Niecie · 19/01/2009 23:10

My DS2 hasn't been to the dentist.

DS1 went when he was 2 and the dentist was very off hand about it all and didn't seem to think there was much need to hurry back before he was 5.

We moved before then but he then saw the school dentist at about 4.5 and was all fine.

I have been meaning to get them both looked at and thought I had found a decent dentist. However, he turned out to be a bit of a nutter so I didn't go back and haven't taken the children at all. DS1 has mild AS and he will need somebody to be very patient with him. I am a bit worried about who I should trust now.

DS2 has just started school so he will see the school dentist shortly but I really need to find somebody who can cope with us all and who won't rip us off - no NHS dentists round here.