Not taking children to the Dentist?

[Hillbeans]

First, I need to phrase that I am not a perfect parent in any shape or form and I may regret even starting this thread. It is not my nature to ever criticize how someone raises their children, but I just had to ask this question. At what age do you think it's necessary to take your children to the Dentist? I was at a party talking with someone about doctors and the subject came up about dentists. This person had told me that she has yet to take her almost 6 year old to the dentist (and has not taken her other children in many years).

She then told me she didn't have Dental insurance and that's why. Now I understand how expensive it could be going to the dentist w/o Insurance, but I know so many people who have spent thousands of dollars as adults getting crowns, bridges, fillings, etc., because they have bad teeth which probably started getting that way in childhood.

Even if you can't go 2x a year, wouldn't you think it's important for the older children to have regular dental exams and x-rays at least once a year? I just don't see going to the Dentist as being something that's optional.

It's just a shame that people put other things in life or a fear of the Dentist over taking care of their teeth. If you don't take care of your teeth, you can have a lifetime of issues and a large expense when your teeth start to decay. We took DS5 when he was 2 years old for his first dental exam and will do the same for DS1.

Ok, i'll get off of my soapbox now, but this bothered me.

 

[mjkacmom]

We start at 3. My 3 year old dd already has a filling!

 

[Christine]

I don't know. Sometimes I think, as a society anymore, we've become way "too much" on some things. Going to the dentist *might* be one of them.

FWIW, I did have dental insurance and my kids started going at age 2. But, even then, I did kind of think it was a bit over the top and probably unneccessary. I think *the* most important factor is good dental care at home. If you can do that, I think it's okay to wait until about age 5 or when the first permanent tooth comes in.

So far, at age 42, I still have pretty perfect teeth. Way back in the dark ages of the 60s, kids didn't go to the dentist until they needed to. And even then, cleanings weren't routinely given. I probably didn't have my first cleaning until I was a teenager.

I don't think it hurts to go the dentist early and get started and get over the fears, but a part of me also thinks that the "hype" over the need to do this is definitely financially driven.

 

[momof2minnies]

I was a child in the 60's and the above post is wrong. They did do cleanings, I started at 3 years old and had cleanings 2x/yr. I still go to the same dentist and so do my kids.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

OP - you just described my parents - and can probably understand why I vowed it would be different for my DD!!!!

I feel for people without insurance and know we are fortunate to have it. If we were without - DD would get care even if it meant my going without and I would look for ways to get it for her.

I am paying for my parents decision not to get me adequate dental care until I was well into my teens. My own DD has gone to the dentist since she was three - and we have emphasized brushing and flossing from the start. Luckily, no cavitities yet (and I do not support ingesting flouride - topical yes).

 

[DaisyD]

We have great dental insurance but our dentist that we have had for years has always told us to bring the kids once they reach 5 y/o. He said you only bring them before that age if you have concerns. Before that the kid has no permanent teeth. We've always followed this guidline and my kids still do not have any cavities. They are 23, 18, and 7. So being almost 6 and not seeing a dentist yet is no big deal unless the parent has some concerns.

 

[Christine]

I was a child in the 60's and the above post is wrong. They did do cleanings, I started at 3 years old and had cleanings 2x/yr. I still go to the same dentist and so do my kids.

I'm *wrong*! You mean I only dreamed that I didn't get any cleanings? Wow.

 

[Jennasis]

Lots of people don't go to the DOCTOR if they don't have insurance. MOSt people don't go to the doctor for checkups...they only go if they are sick. SO I understand why people wouldn't go to the dentist for cleanings and checkups unless something was wrong.

FWIW, I go for an annual physical and twice yearly cleanings at the dentist. But I also have insurance.

As a kid, I was terrified of the dentist. We had a terrible one. When I was a teen, my parents got a new dentist after the old one hurt my little sister with a novacaine shot (he was just being rough with it). The new guy totally changed my opinion of dentists and I enjoyed visiting him. He made me care about dental care again!

I think children should go whne they get their first permanant tooth (if they can), just to learn that the dentist isn't a bad thing.

 

[XYSRUS]

The ADA says you should take them at 2 yrs. old, but my dentist said around 3. Also he said you may have more problem with cavities if/when the teeth start to touch each other. In litle mouths the teeth rarely touch. My kids have been going since age 3, 2x/yr. They get cleaning, exam and sealants. I never went to the dentist as a kid and it was horrific when I finally went. I do not want my kids to go through anything similar. I'll take them at whatever cost. Even if it's embarrassing to pay the bill a little at a time. Or someone could find a dental school near them. They do great work, supervised, at discounted fees.

 

[Saphire]

My husband was self employed when my kids were little and it took everything we had to afford our health insurance...purchasing dental insurance too was just not possible. BUT I was diligent with my kids, they brushed faithfully morning and night. My feeling is that if teeth are well taken care of, problems won't come up in the first place. We finally got the dental insurance when my oldest was 10, and they have gone twice a year since. None of my three kids have ever had a cavity.
I do think you can get away with it when they are little as you are in charge of their habits, but as they get older I think it becomes more important to go as problems can arise with age.

 

[720L]

I've brought my kids since they were 4, but often wondered if it was necessary. My daughter (now 7) has 6 cavities, but they always say "it's only a surface cavity" so they scrape it a little and fill it. These are baby teeth that she will lose in a year does it really matter if its a small cavity? Then they want to do xrays (which I don't allow as often as they want to). I know they make money on xrays.

 

[momof2minnies]

No Christine you didn't say you - you said they didn't routinely do cleanings back in the dark ages- kids didn't go until they needed to- not true

 

[mickeyboat]

I started at 2, but I also had great dental insurance. To tell you the truth, I don't think I would have started that early if I didn't.

Much of the health of your mouth is determined by the kind of saliva you have. You can go to the dentist, brush like a crazy-person, rince and floss, and still have terrible teeth. On the flip side, you could brush twice a week, never see the dentist, and use floss to hang pictures, and have the best teeth in the world.

Denae

 

[noodleknitter]

We have the best dentist, and started when they were about 4. We don't do x-rays (unless necessary) or flouride treatments but they are cleaned and checked. One son has had a couple of cavities. So far, none needing any anesthetic...I hate those stinkin' shots!

 

[Pixiedust34]

My dentist said to bring them in starting at age 4 unless we had a specific concern. Since age 4, we've been doing twice/year cleanings and get x-rays once/year. No cavities yet!

BTW, dd is having her first orthodontist appt. in a few weeks. She's only 8 but the dentist said that her mouth is too small for the teeth that will be coming soon.

I feel for families without dental insurance. Dental work can cost a small fortune, even with insurance.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Both of my DD's didn't get their first tooth until they were over 1 year old. They started when they were 3. We are fortunate to have insurance that allows us to go twice a year. Even if we did not have insurance I would take my children at least once a year. It is very important to me that our daughter's take care of their teeth and have the proper care of their teeth. They may need braces one day and we will have to deal with the financial part of that. Your teeth is one of the first things that people look at. I am a social worker and have checked into the cost for dental care. Without Xrays, just a regular check up is not that costly. Some dentists have payment plans.
The cost of prevention is sometimes less than the cost to fix things.

 

[slo]

I started taking my DD#1 at age 4 and she goes twice a year

My youngest is 3 and she hasn't gone yet. But I'm going to take her to my oldest next visit, so she knows what to expect.

When it comes to having insurance or no insurance, I do have it now, but I didn't when I first started taking DD #1. We are not wealthy people, but I found the money to take her. I do believe taking your children to the dentist is very important!!!

 

[binny]

2 oldest went to the dentist starting about 5. Karissa went for a "happy visit" but this was the first year ( at 7 years old) that she would actually let the dentist get into her mouth and examine.



I am paying for my parents only taking me twice when I was younger. There is help available for those who cant afford it. Its much cheaper to do preventative dentistyr than to repair what wasnt taken care of.

 

[Ginamarie]

My parents were without dental insurance until recently, but took the kids to a discounted dental clinic that was set up for people without dental insurance. They've still spent a fortune in dental bills (even with the discounts) because of my sister's braces. I think this is her third set of braces and she's scheduled to have them on for at least another year or two. DBro(3) just went to the dentist for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

Of course I'm not one to talk. I lost my dental insurance while I was in college and didn't go to the dentist for about 5 years. I went back last year and the dentist couldn't even tell I'd gone that long without a cleaning. I haven't gone this year yet!

 

[minkydog]

My parents didn't have dental insurance either, but they had 5 kids. Nobody got any dental work unless there was a problem. None of us got braces. All of us have had dental issues as adults. And I'm terribly phobic about dentistry.

I started taking each one of my kids at age 3, mostly for a "dental orientation"--sit in the chair, play with the big toothbrush, "count teeth". We were able make plans for the two older children for early orthodontia because they had tiny high, narrow palates. Saved them having any teeth pulled in their teens. I think sealants have revolutionized dentistry. I had several teeth painfully filled as a young child and all of them have required crowns as adults. My kids will not have to go through all that because their teeth are sealed. They have no cavities (well, youngest DS has two fillings, but he's autistic--it's a nightmare to brush his teeth and we didn't get them sealed soon enough).As a result of timely dental visits, my kids are unafraid of the dentist. They have beautiful, healthy teeth.

Healthy teeth prevent a host of other systemic illnesses. Poor dental health can lead to immune problems, heart disease, and infections. As much as I fear the dentist, even I have found it preferable to go twice ayear(they juice me up ) than put it off. Most of my visits now only entail cleaning, rather than drilling, but I'm at an age where teeth give me some problems.

If you really want to see what happens when you don't get regular dental care, visit a less-industrialized country. Their teeth look great because they're wearing dentures.