Will a dentist remove tartar from 14 month old's teeth?

[minipie]

DD has got tartar build up on her front bottom teeth . I've been brushing her teeth daily since they appeared but am of course doing so much more carefully since I noticed the tartar.

I have read that the first dentist visit should usually be around now, so I will book her in. However, can anyone tell me if the dentist will be able/willing to remove the tartar? I must admit I can't imagine how they would manage to do it (she's not the cooperative sort...) but hate the thought that it will now stay there until she gets her next teeth. And do I need a child specialist dentist?

Any experiences welcome!

Sorry not overly helpful but dd1 is 5 and at her last appointment I took dtds (20mo) to watch and the dentist told me she generally felt there was little point looking at childrens teeth before 2yo. I'd call the dentist and see what they advise.

My DS1 had tarter build up on his adult teeth which the dentist did remove after about 18 months - 2 years (he was 8 years). I doubt they will bother with milk teeth to be honest but you should ask.

I would take her, not sure they will do anything at this age but they will check them out. With DD I was a little lazy starting her at the dentist but DS has been going since he started having teeth and they always just have a look in his mouth.

Hi mnipie, I see the odd toddler with tartar on their bottom teeth and I don't remove it (won't do any damage and likely impossible to get them to cooperate!) Keep up the good cleaning from now on, sometimes you'll find a clump of it falls off, which also isn't a problem. I recommend children come from 6months old (even though the first few visits they rarely open their mouths it just gets them used to it) hth

thanks, sounds like they probably won't do anything then until she's older.

good to hear the tartar won't do any damage dentistmummy, thanks.

Our dentist welcomes babies from any age (we just take them along to our appointment, so DS2 was there at 6 months, while we took DS1 at 3 months). I think it's good to get them used to the dentist early when little work will be done to it. Having read dentismummy's post, pleased to see they won't do anything to remove tartar (had some horrible tartar removing sessions myself with a hygienist - would hate to think they'd try that with a toddler (not without strapping them down... :-)