At what age should a child first go to the dentist?

[miamama09]

My DD is 2, and not great when it comes to teeth brushing. When should a child visit the dentist? I cannot imagine her sitting in a dentist chair and opening up her mouth for him to have a poke around! no chance!

[Pootles2010]

I've started taking my ds already he's only 11 months, he doesn't have appt as such, just sits and watches me have mine, to get the idea that it's all ok!

Then at the end he sits on my lap for a minute in dentists chair to get the idea.

Don't know when they need a proper appt, your dentist should know.

[Ktay]

Miamama have you seen Brush-baby toothbrushes? I think it gives DD (2 - should really start taking her to the dentist too) a much more thorough clean than a normal bristle one.

[Tee2072]

My son came with me when he was months old but I think the first time the dentist actually looked at his teeth he was around a year or so.

He's been several times now. Just for a peek and check to see which are in and which are still missing. He's just turned 2.

[TheOriginalFAB]

They should go as soon as their first tooth is through. It gets them used to going before they get to an age where they can refuse to cooperate. You need to sort the not wanting to do her teeth tbh or she will have more traumatic visits if she needs fillings or extractions.

[RunningOutOfIdeas]

Can you take her when you have a check-up? I took DD to one of mine when she was about 2. She stood near my feet so she was able to see what the dentist was doing and found it really interesting. It also had the positive effect of making her happier to have her teeth brushed for a few weeks.

DD is now 3 and recently had her first appointment. The dentist was very good. He was not going to insist she sat in the chair, or opened her mouth if she did not want to. I had my check-up first. Then she sat on my lap on the chair and the dentist suggested we play with the chair. So we went up and down a few times. When DD seemed relaxed I asked her if she wanted to show the dentist her teeth. She opened her mouth really wide and let him have a good look.

It might have helped that DD has 2 books about going to the dentist - Peppa Pig and Maisy.

[miamama09]

ok am thinking I will make an appointment for myself and take her along with me and try to get her to sit in the chair and open her mouth at least. Sometimes she is ok at brushing, but mostly I have to force her to do it, the last thing I want is her having bad teeth or needing lots of fillings.
Ktay - thanks for that brush idea. I will order one.

[chrisrobin]

My dentsit told me to take DS1 along to eeach appointment and he sat on my lap while I was examined. At 3 the dentist asked him to go 'aah' and looked inside with a mirror only, now at 5 he is having his teeth counted and checked when we go. DS2 was unsure but we read the Peppa Pig book each night for a while and it put him at ease.

To encourage brushing I let the boys clean my teeth while I cleaned theirs, now its a dinosaur game who can roar the loudest while I put the toothbrush in their mouths and brush.

[cornflakegirl]

I get whole family appointments from the time they have teeth. Like chrisrobin, the dentist doesn't do much until they're a bit older, but it gets them used to the process.

[BeeMyBaby]

I first took DD when she was about 9 months where not much happened at all, and at 16 months we've just had our 6 month check and the dentist got her to sit on my lap and had a look at the front 8, but couldn't really get to see the back 4, both times I she got a sticker