Does my toddler need to see the dentist?

[Sunshine0620]

My DS is nearly 3 and has not yet seen a dentist. Our NHS practice is hopeless (we are/were on the waiting list to move, pre-Covid) and didn’t want to see him until he was nearly 2, then have cancelled appointments on the day twice, then Covid happened!

So now things are reopening, should I get him seen? I’d pay to go private as don’t think we’ve any chance of an NHS appt. Can a dentist visit be useful at this age for actual dental health, or is it more about getting them used to the environment (in which case I probably won’t bother!) I’ve seen something about fluoride varnish on NHS website?

I don’t suspect any issues with his teeth, we brush well etc, but I’m worried that he could develop issues because they’ve never been properly checked!

We take them from when they first get teeth in Scotland so that could be from around 6 months old. Can't believe they say wait till age 2! Taking them from a young age gets them used to the sights and sounds of the dentist and let's them know what to expect/less likely to find it scary

England has a campaign that all babies should see a dentist before their first birthday. My dentist is not doing routine appointments yet and the last time we went my 13 month old didn’t have any teeth.

I registered him as soon as he was born and every time I tried to book him in they put me off, asking how many teeth etc. I’ve never been happy with them as a practice really, but very limited options near us for NHS dentists so we were stuck!

When I was pregnant I was told to bring her with me Once she Had teeth when I had appointments, and they’d look at her teeth at the same time. My first check up after she got teeth was due in April. Then Covid. Dentist now not doing any routine appointments til at least February! Pointed out my daughter will be almost 2 and never have seen a dentist by then and they didn’t care. Have given up with the NHS and gone private - they were able to fit me in later this month.

I'm registered as a private patient with my dentist but ds is free with them because it's free up to the age of 16 I believe and they claim for him from the NHS like with glasses. Also I get a discount for my treatment because I take him. We've been going regularly since he was three.

We’ve been taking our daughter since her first teeth, she’s 3 1/2 now, they basically just count the teeth and put the mirror in her mouth then give her a sticker. I find it helpful in terms of getting her used to seeing a dentist and they would obviously pick up on anything weird when they look, but I’d recommend it - but if you brush your child’s teeth regularly its unlikely that there will be problems so it’s not the end of the world if you can’t get a dentist.

My dentist advised they would see them from 18 months to check if there were any issues with the teeth coming through.

Have called local private practice and explained the situation, lovely lady advised against bringing him in just now so as not to expose him to potential Covid risk, though she assured me they were all safely set up etc. and would happily see me. I’ll keep on with the brushing and pretending I’ve put ‘juice’ in his cup