First Dental Appointment?

I'm so frustrated! When was your child first dental appointment?

Early Intervention and my kids pediatrician have been telling me that they now suggest the first appointment to be at a year. Well, so far both the dentists we've had tell me that they don't see kids until they are 4 unless they have a problem.

So, um. . . what? I keep being told to take them in to get seen, but the dentist doesn't want to see them. I'm told "it's too hard when they're that young, so we won't refuse to see them, but if there isn't an acutal problem then we won't do anything." So, wait. What?

lol.

Anthony was 1 when he had his first appointment.

My daughters first was this year and shes 4. And they still didnt do much. Not a full cleaning, just flossing and poking around, checkinf for cavities. Cheapest dental appt I ever paid for   Im in Canada tho...

My insurance didn't cover until 3 years so then they usually have all of their teeth in.

I'm also having this problem. And now she's 21 months old. And I can't find a pediatric dentist to see her until she is 3.

Quoting [JadeLee]:" My insurance didn't cover until 3 years so then they usually have all of their teeth in."

My insurance covers is no problem. I've checked. It's just the dentists.

Autumn is 4-1/2 and hasn't gone yet. She will by the end of the year though. We were FINALLY able to get her covered under insurance through my exhusbands work (No coverage through my job).

Quoting V & E's Mom! [17 weeks]:" I'm also having this problem. And now she's 21 months old. And I can't find a pediatric dentist to see her until she is 3."

See, they won't refer me to a pediatric dentists unless they see a problem. But they won't check for a problem until 4 because it's too stressful on the kid. I understand it CAN be, but that just sounds like laziness, like they won't even TRY to do a check up. . .

It depends on what kind of dentist you take them to. Pediatric dentists usually will see a child whenever they get their first tooth, regardless of age. My kids have been going since 9 and 13 months. Sera won't get her first proper cleaning until next month, when she's 4.

My daughter just turned 5 and will be going next month. We were told around 4-5 is the ideal age.

My LO had his first at 1,He`s 3 now an they`ll start his x-rays in Feb to make sure he has no cavities between his teeth.My dentist wouldnt see him until he was 3 so I found him a Pediatric dentist.

Quoting Jas ♥:" It depends on what kind of dentist you take them to. Pediatric dentists usually will see a child whenever ... [snip!] ... of age. My kids have been going since 9 and 13 months. Sera won't get her first proper cleaning until next month, when she's 4."

I guess I need to talk to my insurance. The place we picked doesn't have a pediatric dentist (though it claims they do on their website). But to go to one, I need a referral. They won't do a referral unless they see an actual problem, and they won't look for a problem until they are 3 UNLESS there is an obvious problem like a broken tooth or pain. So basically, they won't do a normal check up, and won't refer me out without doing a check-up, which they won't do.

Quoting she nan igans:" I guess I need to talk to my insurance. The place we picked doesn't have a pediatric dentist (though ... [snip!] ... or pain. So basically, they won't do a normal check up, and won't refer me out without doing a check-up, which they won't do."

Well that doesn't seem right. Cavities aren't an obvious problem unless you know what you're looking for (I certainly don't). Cavities can be in between the teeth as well so how would you know unless a professional examines their teeth? Waiting for something "obvious" can mean more dental work.

Quoting Jas ♥:" Well that doesn't seem right. Cavities aren't an obvious problem unless you know what you're looking ... [snip!] ... so how would you know unless a professional examines their teeth? Waiting for something "obvious" can mean more dental work."

It honestly sounds like laziness. Like, I know that dealign with a kid younger then 4 is more difficult and takes more time. They seem to not want to deal with doing a "check up" on a kid that might be difficult. She basically said "we won't refuse to see them, but since they're so young we don't want them to have a bad experience so nothing ever gets done."

I don't want ehr to have a bad experience either, but that's why you have specialist that know how to work with kids. . . You don't just ignore it until it's easier to deal with. . .

This is what the last dental place we went to said also. Maybe I'll call around and see where else my insurance is accepted and see if I can find a pediatric dentist for them.

My daughter just turned 20 months and has her first next week. My dentist specifically does "children days". They start at age one. The only bad about it is that you can only take your child on those days because they change the office around to accommodate kids. My daughter only had two teeth when she was one so I waited until she got a few more.