When does a child go to the dentist?

[ColourfulHairbands]

Just that really! My firstborn just turned 2 at the beginning of May but has never been to the dentist for a check up. Just wondering if I should have booked her appointment ages ago or will you just take them if you ever have any concerns? Thank you

I took mine when she had her first tooth

Mine were about 2 I think so I’d book an app now, if you can find one!

Mine started going soon within six months of his first milk teeth starting to come in.

We started at 18 months I think, then ended up not going back for another 18 months due to lockdowns. Seems a reasonable time to take your DC, it’s probably about habit forming as much as anything else at this age.

When they have a full set,so they get used to it

I was told when they get their first tooth, but more to get them used to going. My dentist just said to bring my daughter with me to my appointment.

www.bspd.co.uk/Patients/Dental-Check-by-One

I took my daughter with me every time from when she was born. When she got older he would ask her to open her mouth and have a quick look it so it became quite a normal thing for her. I think she started proper check ups when she was around 2.

None of us in our house can get an nhs dentist so mine have embarrassingly never been.

Thanks for the quick replies already!

I’ll call my dentist practice in the week and see if I can book an appointment for her. She’s not a fan of people looking in her mouth so I can see why it’s best to get her used to it from now:)

This for me too.

I read to take them when they get their first tooth so that's what we did, and have taken them every 6 months for checkups since then. Finding an NHS dentist is a nightmare but when I gave up and registered as a private patient they suddenly said that they could take the kids on as NHS patients as long as I was a private patient. I go once a year for a checkup and it costs me about £40 so not a bad deal really.

From 8 months even before any teeth.

Just to get them used to going.

Initially they just count the teeth.

Then when older they can have proper check ups.

Pre-covid I’m sure the guidance was to take them after their first tooth. When I eventually managed to get my lockdown baby registered they said they wouldn’t see him until he was 2.

for those who can’t get them in with an nhs dentist. I’ve had to take my daughter privately and it’s under £20 if that’s something you can do?

Thank you to the posters re the private check up, I can do that I hasn’t realised It wouldn’t be mega money! I shouldn’t have to I’m entitled to free treatment currently but no way of getting it

Every 6 months from 6 months the old, minus 2 or 3 for Covid. We try and get them to open their mouths and let the dentis have a poke around, but the important thing is making it a non stressful event.

I took them with me to my appointments when they were babies and the dentist checked their mouths. Then, when they had teeth, every six months.

Fgs didnt realise this was an old post