Not taking children to the Dentist?

[Mrs.Toad]

Christine, I don't the other poster meant you were wrong about your experience, but wrong in that kids in general didn't go until they were older in the 60's. I'm also 42, and my parents took my brother and me to the dentist every 6 months for as long as I can remember, at a minimum age 5 or 6.

Even if a parent doesn't have concerns, I personally think it's important to let a professional be the one to make that assessment. I wouldn't recognize decay on a tooth until it had gotten to a horrendous stage.

My older dd didn't see the dentist for the first time till she was almost 4, and she paid for it. She didn't eat a lot of sweets and we brushed her teeth regularly, but at the first visit the dentist still found 3 teeth that needed crowns! She said dd had weak tooth enamel that her instruments could cut through "like butter", poor thing. We had to take her to the hospital and put her under general anesthesia to get those crowns done, and now we put sealants on all her molars.

We use a pediatric dentist who wants to start seeing kids at about one year of age. Even though there isn't a huge concern for decay at that age, she likes to get them used to going to the dentist, so they don't develop a fear of it. She just takes a quick peek at that age, and doesn't charge for it. She says the health of the baby teeth affects the health of the permanent teeth, so it's just as important to take good care of them.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It seems that most pediatricians around here recommend going to the dentist at age 3. I know my DS had already been to the dentist before he turned 3 because he tripped over a rug the day before his 3rd birthday and nearly knocked his tooth out. We had been to see the dentist before that happened.

Even if we didn't have dental insurance I think I would probably make an effort to have DS in for a check-up at LEAST once a year. I always went 2x a year when I was little, and I have a mouth full of fillings. I imagine things would be much worse for me if my parents hadn't taken me for regular check ups.

 

[pixiemomma]

We do not have dental insurance. My husband is self-employed. We do pay for heath insurance. We take our children twice a year for cleanings and once for x-rays. So far their teeth are perfect. I believe in preventive care. We spend about $370 a year.

 

[tiggersmom2]

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

That is the motto of our office. We like to see children around ages 3 or 4. There are so many issues that could be going on besides cavities. A little FYI about x-rays......they are very important, and it is the ONLY way for the dentist to discover interproximal cavities (cavities in between the teeth) before they decay the tooth to the nerve.


For those parents who have no dental insurance - there are dental schools and dental hygiene schools that will see patients free of charge or for a very nominal fee.

I find it very sad that some parents may not take their kids to the dentist because they deem it unnecessary and that dentist are just financially driven..... Trust me, it will be the children who are hurt by this ignorance.

 

[zalansky]

We are taking our son for the first dental visit next week....he is 3 now and will be 4 in December. Teeth are a huge part of s persons appearance and not taking care of them just doesn't make sense. As for the teeth not being permanent and therefore not mattering, that is not true. My DH's nephew who is 7 (and has a mother who doesn't take care of his teeth) already has had root canals and has had teeth pulled and had silver caps put on them. They look awful and the dentist told him it most certainly does effect the permanent teeth below....especially since they are all coming in now.

 

[Becky2005]

We were told to start bringing them at 3 but basically just to count their teeth & let the kids get familiar with the dentist office. Then it's usually only 1x year until they get start getting adult teeth or there are other problems.

I know in our state they just passed a law that the kids have to have a dental exam entering Kindergarten, 3rd & 6th (not sure about 3rd?), just like they need a medical exam.

It's a double-edged sword I guess. My DH basically goes to the dentist as needed but he seems to be blessed with good teeth. He almost never gets cavities, etc... I on the other hand had been going to the dentist since I was younger (no cleanings though, not that they didn't do them but I think we had a quack for a dentist! He cracked my jaw pulling out a tooth!) but I was not so lucky with good teeth. I think some of it is hereditary though because even though I know we were taught good teeth hygiene, etc... my mom's teeth are not in good shape either but my dad's are fine. Mine also tend to stain easy. I also basically ended up getting most my baby teeth pulled as a teenager. I really have no idea how long those teeth would have stayed in if we let them go naturally. I'm finding out a bit though because my daughter has braces now & when they did the x-ray she had 13 baby teeth still to loose (this was last October). She so far has only lost 2 of those & she will be 13 in March. I have a feeling she will be 15 or 16 and still have baby teeth unless they decide they need to get pulled for whatever reason. Yes, she has braces while she has baby teeth but we had to do hers in 2 steps because of the way things were. Right now she only has braces on the top.

On the other hand my 9 year old was loosing teeth left & right at one point, so I think he has more adult teeth than my DD does.

I haven't taken my little guy to the dentist yet, he just turned 3 last week though.

We don't have dental insurance either.

 

[mom23boys]

I took my oldest two boys around age 3. My yougest went earlier around 2 because he has reflux and I was nervous about the damage to his teeth. Believe it or not he has the best teeth out of all three boys.

My School District requires a full medical exam and dental exam before entering Kindergarten.

 

[tiggersmom2]

As for the teeth not being permanent and therefore not mattering, that is not true. My DH's nephew who is 7 (and has a mother who doesn't take care of his teeth) already has had root canals and has had teeth pulled and had silver caps put on them. They look awful and the dentist told him it most certainly does effect the permanent teeth below....especially since they are all coming in now.

You are so right. The primary teeth are VERY important because they serve as a "guide" for the permanent dentition. If the primary teeth are allowed to decay this can cause a conundrum of problems for the permanent teeth. Also, whoever said that a normal parent could not detect decay until the cavity is horrible, is correct. Once decay is able to be seen with the naked eye, the decay has more than likely gone to the nerve and the tooth will need a pulpotomy ( root canal for primary teeth) to be saved.

 

[alldiz]

I am a dental hygienist

Bring your children with you at your appt about 1 years old.

They get to see you live through the experience
Hygienist will give your little one a "ride" on the chair,and take a
quick look at no charge


WORST THING FOR KIDS....
EVERY VARIETY OF FRUIT SNACKS......
EVERY KID I SEE WITH CAVITIES EATS THEM!!!!!!!!

Start cleaning babies mouth immediately..I mean like a few days old...
Use a clean gauze to wipe babies gums...

Why U ask?

Keeps gums clean
Baby gets used to you going in their mouth to clean(very important)!!!
It toughens babies gums to help with teething


Lots of kids are scared of the dentist because they don't go often
They see pediatrician since birth..... they get used to it.


Last but not least

Never make a big deal about going to the dentist,it should be just
another thing to do
Kerri

 

[mickeyfan2]

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.

WOW! I am three years older than you and it was manditory for us to see a dentist before entering kindergarten. I know that I started to go by the time I was 5 (see above) and have gone every 6-9 months since. Oral health is directly related to physical health. The mouth is an easy path for germs to get into the blood stream. Also good habits are formed in our early years. As a kid we had dental insurance but I have not had dental insurance in 20 years.

ETA: I have a second cousin who never got her permanent teeth. The xrays showed no permanent teeth. So they used braces to make the baby teeth the best they could be. Thankfully her baby teeth were not a rotten and decayed before they found out she had no permanent teeth.

 

[Cindyluwho]

My Dentist insisted that I bring my DD with me every time I came for a visit. He would have her sit in my lap and he'd check her gums and just generally fuss over her. To this day my DD12 loves the Dentist. Important note though, the visits for my DD were free until she was 6 years old, that was just his policy as he thought it was very important that going to the Dentist was FUN and that children have regular checkups.

 

[Disney Ella]

My kids started going to the dentist at age 3.

My parents only took me to the dentist twice - when I was seven and had an abcessed tooth and before college (it was required). At that visit, I had seven cavities, which I paid to have filled when I was in college.

I have a bridge and a crown and a couple of other teeth that look like might need root canals and crowns.

Even if I didn't have insurance, I'd find a way to take the kids at least once a year so they wouldn't end up with teeth like mine.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I just canceled my dd 31/2's appt l2 wks ago 'cause I didn't have the money - most dentists around here make you pay up front then insurance reimburses you...I don't have the $100+ that's it's gonna take to get her checked out - that's the initital visit - then more $ if she has any cavities or anything.

DH never goes to the dentist - maybe once every 3 yrs (IF that often!) and he has never had a cavity (he's 33). It's not just the dentist thats the answer - it has a TON to do with your enamel - how hard it is - @ least that's what our dentist said.

AND I agree with one of the above posters I don't take my dd's to the dr for routine checkups ONLY when they are sicl OR when it's time for required shots - & yes, I have insurance....DD8 hasn't been for a ckup since her 5yo shots - only been for a cough once in April. DD3 hasn't been for a well visit since her last shots either...I see no reason to dump $25 in their hands for them to tell me dd's are healthy---I can figure that one out on my own (in fact I used to go to the health dept for free shots & didn't even go to dr for those either!) weve moved so I don't even know where the health dept is here....

So no dentist for us until it's necessary..........but proablbly will be 1 time a year.

 

[DISUNC]

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.

ITA!

Even with Dental Insurance....Dentist are ridiculously expensive!

 

[Nancy]

I didn't have dental insurance until about 8-9 years ago, so no my kids did not go until they were older. Sorry, but if I had to choose between eating and them going to a dentist what do you think would win? At that point we had serious financial problems, there was no extra money. I had to watch every single penny I spent. Surprisingly once I went FT and got insurance (dh's work doesn't offer it) I took all the kids. My 2 older girls have never had a cavity, youngest one had a very small one once.


With the insurance you get 2 free cleanings a year, everything else is based on what insurance says it should cost as opposed to what the dentist charges. When I had my infected tooth, they wanted to do a root canal, put in a post and crown it. My insurance would only cover part of it and it would have cost me $800.00 out of pocket. It was a molar, to pull it was covered in full, no cost to me....so I had it pulled. I had to add, that was 2 years ago and it was my fist trip to the dentist since I was 22. (I was 46 with my tooth pulling) I had no cavities, no plaque, my teeth are good, except for the infection from an old filling falling out.

As for doctors, The girls had to have physicals for school and to get working papers, we have no co-pay for well child visits (or sick child either) but I didn't take them every year...only when they needed them for school. I guess I'm lucky, we don't get sick all that much and we have good teeth.

 

[frndofpooh]

We take our DS's to the dentist every 6 mos., beginning when they were three. I have bad tooth enamel and get cavities at the drop of a hat and it seems they have inherited that from me. DH has never had a cavity - teeth as strong as nails.

OP - please suggest to your friend the option mentioned earlier of having the kids checked out at a dental school. Where we live, there is a large university hospital with a dental school attached that treats people without insurance. Also, our state provides low cost dental insurance for those who qualify. Perhaps yours does as well and that might be a good way for her to go.

 

[froglady]

WOW! I am three years older than you and it was manditory for us to see a dentist before entering kindergarten. I know that I started to go by the time I was 5 (see above) and have gone every 6-9 months since. Oral health is directly related to physical health. The mouth is an easy path for germs to get into the blood stream. Also good habits are formed in our early years. As a kid we had dental insurance but I have not had dental insurance in 20 years.

QUOTE]

I'm a bit older (55) and grew up in a poor neighborhood. It was very rare for anyone around us to go to the dentist unless there was a problem. Now, the rich kids had regular check-ups, braces, etc, but even then they didn't start, unless there was a problem, until they were older. Most people really didn't think that you needed care until you had permanent teeth. DH grew up in a different state, and his experience (except that he did have regular check-ups once his permanent teeth came in) was abouit the same.

There was also a lot of new information coming out about dental care in the 60s, so a lot of your dental care (if you could afford it) had to do with where you lived, and how young your dentist was. The oldtimers didn't seem to pick up on things. I know that it wasn't until I was 21 and went to a new, young, dentist that I was taught about flossing, alternatives to pulling teeth, etc. DH had the same experience; he (and his sisters) realized that they had never had a thorough cleaning until they moved and changed dentists! (And their new dentist was also much younger than their parent's dentist.)

 

[Hillbeans]

I've learned a lot from this thread and I thank Everyone for keeping it very friendly!!!!

I didn't realize that there were school districts who require Dental and Medical exams before K. I do know that in our district they require a full physical and proof of immunizations but they do ask for the phone # of our dentist on our emergency forms.

I do not know the financial situation of my neighbor, but I would not think they would qualify for low cost/no cost dental.

I can understand why someone wouldn't want to shell out a huge amount of cash for a dental visit for their kids, however I honestly think that in this day and age (just as other posters mentioned) that your teeth and how they look and how they "keep" are so important. The first thing people look at in many cases is your smile - and yes, some people can brush 2x a day and floss like crazy and still get cavities, and some can go 10 years with no dental visits and have no cavities, but that's not the point. I could go 10 years and not go to the OB/Gyn for my PAP tests and I could be fine too, but that's not a good idea either.

Well, I hope she decides to go at some point sooner than later. I could refer her to my dentist whom I love, if the subject comes up again.

 

[carone0318]

My 2 kids have been to the dentist since each was 3 yrs old, every 6 months. Dd now 10, has one little cavity, but they are letting it go because it is on a baby tooth that she will be losing. She takes after dh and his teeth

Ds, he is 5 this time last yr they were finally able to get e-rays. We he needed some major work. He had 6 cavities, required 3 crowns on baby teeth and 3 regular fillings. He was knocked out for the procedure and has been great since. Unfortunately, ds takes after me and my teeth.

I remember something my mother told me. She said that the dentist told her that my brother needed work on his baby teeth and she didn't do it because the were just baby teeth. She has regretted never having the work done and told me never to ignore what the dentist suggests just because they are baby teeth. That stuck in my mind and the moment I was told that my ds needed work I knew we were doing it no matter the cost.

Because myself and ds have the kind of teeth that require work, we have my dental insurance as the primary and dh's dental is secondary. I also have a flexible spending acct to cover these type of expenses. This coming yr I have to jack up my contribution, it looks like braces are in the near future for dd.

Dh has perfect teeth (only 3 cavities and he's 37), but he did braces - looks like both of my kids will be needing braces!!!

 

[kellyg403]

When I was married to the kids dad I took them to the dentist starting at age 3 and every year for cleanings etc. After the divorce and having no insurance I was unable to take them every year for their cleanings. Since there were 6 of them, I took 3 one year and 3 another. It was the only choice on my salary and the financial problems at the time. I personally didn't go to the dentist anytime during those hard years. I am lucky though and have had only one cavity my entire life, when I was 18. I am 42 and have that same filling. So, though I do understand how costly the dentist is, I do think at least an attempt should be made to go at least when your finances allow. Now that I have insurance, the younger 3 kids again go every year to the dentist, eye dr and physicals.

Kelly