omg getting teeth cleaned NOW?

ok gang, how old should a child be when they go to the dentist and ge their teeth cleaned for the first time?

i think a lil older than now, after all, there's NOTHING wrong with number 1 son's teeth. hell, his front two JUST NOW grew in (the permenent ones). he's 6 btw.

now a check-up, i can see.....but cleaning? that crap hurts adults! i had to have a 'scraping'? the last time i went and wow bo zowie! it didn't just tickle.......oof.


so, what do YA'LL think?

My daughter started at 4.. she loves going.. they don't have much plaque because they are young i guess.

I think my pediatrician recommended it at 4. I am glad she didnt get my fear of the dentist. (It's half price of adults too)

getting them cleaned?

or getting a check-up?

thanks for replying gal :)

I just took my son to the dentist for the first time he will be five in june he is going in for 8 caps on his molars next thursday due to several cavities, he has to be put under general for the dental work, he was on antibiotics for 2 yrs straight due to chronic ear infections and his tooth enamel was compromised and I didnt know it. Even with good dental care at home, brushing and flossing. I never would have thought to take him yet except his mouth was bothering him.

I couldnt believe that The dentist told me they should go from a year old , I was shocked I figured baby teeth, they lose them, but if they lose them too early it can affect the adult tooth placement. He said they start cleanings at about 4, but check teeth for caries from age 1 up. I take him to a pediatric dentist, and the regular cleanings are inexpensive, but we have full dental coverage right now, so I am not sure how they compare to adult cleaning costs.

As kids we didnt go until our adult teeth came in, my next one I am def taking earlier, just in case, I dont want to end up in this situation again. Guess it all depends on our kids teeth, my guy has just happens to have a bad thing going on with his teeth.

Yup cleaned, xrays, the whole thing.

wow, thanks you two.....i figured, check-ups? suuuuure

cleanings? goodness why? it's too soon, surely?

i've never had any probs with my toofies so i guess i don't think about it?

thanks for replying :)

I never realized you could even get a check up with out a cleaning, i have always done it at the same time. I have being going since I was 4.

OK, I asked the most expert person I know and that is my wife. She has been working in dental offices, mostly as the office manager since 1978. Her response is that they want the child to start coming in at 3 so they can get their teeth counted and become familiar with the dentist. She said that most dentists will only do what the child will allow, not wanting to make them afraid of future dental visits. As to when cleaning starts, she says that it varies from child to child, but can begin as early as the first visit. Hope this helps. If you want me to ask my expert more questions just let me know.

thanks you two :)

spenser, if you would, ask her if it's "necessary" ? for a 6 year old child who's top front teeth are still a week or two away from being fully grown in, to have his teeth CLEANED. :confused:

a check up, i can go along with.......but cleaned? there's been no time for anything to build up, as his big boy teeth are just NOW fully in and/or growing in...and he still has baby teeth to lose, although i don't recall how many. i think about it and i just know i've put so many quarters under that pillow that i could buy a tank of gas with it lol

thank your bride for me :D

My kids have been going to the dentist since their first birthday or so..my son got his first tooth at 4mo. I believe though they got their first actual cleaning around 3. In kindergarten about 5-6 they got sealants placed on their baby teeth ..this is especially good to get for your kids if they have deep crevices on the surface of their teeth as pitted teeth get more cavities.

Both my son and daughter have only had one small cavitity between the teeth since then.. and not wanting them to have a fear of the dentist I let them have gas for the procedure...well worth the 40 dollars ;)

oh and as far as baby teeth go don't count on it being anytime soon for your little one to be done with baby teeth falling out. My son who just turned 12 has just recently lost his last baby tooth ;)

I would get him started at 3... Their are great pediondonts (sp) I know I did when i was little.. and my late fiances' brother told me around 3 ....

Their gums should be ok and won't hurt them so bad if they go to the right person

My daughter (who is 5) will be having her teeth cleaned this yr. Last yr it was just a check up. My stepdaughter (who is 6) goes to a different dentist and has not had her teeth cleaned. The cleaning they get and the ones we get are very different. They do very little scraping as childrens saliva contains less bacteria which equals less plaque build up. I remember getting my teeth cleaned around 7.

thanks for all the info gang, i'm feeling better about the appt that my ex's girlfriend made for my son


WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE!

lol, see....i left that lil tidbit out, i'm trying to not be a complete jerk about this. but the appt date WILL be changed. she is NOT taking my child to his first dentist appt. no way, no how.

ty ty ty

thanks you two :)

spenser, if you would, ask her if it's "necessary" ? for a 6 year old child who's top front teeth are still a week or two away from being fully grown in, to have his teeth CLEANED. :confused:

a check up, i can go along with.......but cleaned? there's been no time for anything to build up, as his big boy teeth are just NOW fully in and/or growing in...and he still has baby teeth to lose, although i don't recall how many. i think about it and i just know i've put so many quarters under that pillow that i could buy a tank of gas with it lol

thank your bride for me :D

She says definitely necessary and probably long overdue. My son is about to turn 8 and has already had four cleanings. She is adament in saying that the cleanings are necessary and will help with all those adult teeth coming in.