Conference moira::parenting_v3

    When Carrie went when she was just 3 (first visit), they had my wife
    sit in the chair, and Carrie sat on her lap. this way she felt much
    more secure cause my wife held her. They can also do at least an exam
    with him sitting in your lap, leaning his head back on you.
    
    --dave--

    I brought my daughter, 3.5 to the dentist about a month ago.  She
    basically did the same as your son.  She watched me have my teeth
    cleaned and checked, but wouldn't let then even close to her mouth.
    She wouldn't even let them brush her teeth with a regular toothbrush.
    So, I guess I'm going to try again in about 6 months.  Maybe it will
    be better.
    

    I'd wait ......
    
    Coming from someone who was FORCED to the dentist to the point that I
    won't go now, I think you're better off waiting until the child can
    understand better.
    
    Christopher had his first visit - complete with 2 cavities - about 7
    mos ago (~5 yrs old).  He **LOVES** the dentist and thinks it's one of
    the BEST places to go!!  He just went back for another cleaning a few
    weeks ago, and he still loves it.  He can't understand why I don't love
    it.  
    
    He had the cavities since he was about 3.5, and aside from brushing and
    flouride, we just left them.  They finally started hurting him around
    5, so we decided it was time.  Maybe it helped because he had a
    definite gain, but the dentist has never said anything such that it
    would make us think that we should've brought him sooner.  I mean it
    didn't do any more damage by waiting.
    
    I agree that it would be nice to get them 'painlessly' in as young as
    possible, but if they're going to be afraid, they are only baby teeth,
    so I think it's worth the wait.
    
    btw - did you know that if you breathe through your mouth while
    sleeping it aggravates plaque buildup?!
    
    Let me know if anyone would like the name of our dentist.
    
    Patty

    Also, you might want to check out note 387, or even cruise
    Parenting_v2, for more information/discussion about dentists...

    I've made an appt with the hygenist for this summer when Ryan turns 3.
    She said she'll do whatever part of the cleaning that Ryan allows but
    that the visit is more a get-acquainted time than anything else.  I'd
    say give it 6 months and try again, unless there's a dental problem.
    
    Regards,
    

    
    re: 3
    
    I didn't get that impression from my dentist.  Waiting to fix a cavity
    until it hurts means that the decay goes from the surface to possibly
    effecting the root and can mean lots more problems.
    
    Also baby teeth are important, especially as floride is concerned.  I
    understood that the floride you give when the baby teeth are forming
    also effect the development of the permanent teeth underneath.  If 
    the baby teeth are so bad that they need to be extracted (I understand
    that this was not the case with this noter's child) it will effect the
    alignment of the permanent teeth when they come in.
    
    I guess what I am trying to caution about is that yes, you do not want
    to tramatize the child by forcing them to go to the dentist, but you
    do want to treat the baby teeth as importantly as the permanent teeth
    by developing good hygiene habits at an early age.
    
    FWIW - I took my daughter for her first visit at about 17 months just
    so that he could look at her teeth and see if there were any potential
    problems and to give them a good cleaning.  He specializes in just
    pediatic dentistry, so the place focuses on making the kids feel com-
    fortable.  She did fuss and cry when he was working in her mouth, but
    he was in and out rather quickly and spent alot of time before and
    after trying to help her adjust to the environment.  I think that the
    more exposure they have to going to the dentist, the less fearful they
    will be, assuming the dentist is understanding.  He was concerned that
    the kids are as comfortable as possible and even told me not to make
    her feel bad if she fusses since it is tramatic for lots of children.
    
    I was very pleased with this dentist and glad I took her in early.
    My nephew had 3 cavities when he went in for his first checkup at 3-1/2
    and I want to know as early as possible if there are any problems
    and if we need to be more careful in caring for her teeth.
    
    Sue

    I agree 100% with Sue (reply .6). Baby teeth are *very* important! They
    are the "place holders" for the adult teeth, and if they decay, they
    can become misaligned setting up major problems for the future. And
    teeth don't always hurt when they are decaying! My wife had a molar
    which had an old filling in it (on the order of 15 years). It loosened,
    food got under it, and it thoroughly rotted away, to the point it had
    to be extracted. All absolutely painlessly! She had no idea it was
    happening! And it happened within a 1 yr. period.
    
    Don't traumatize the child, but don't wait needlessly, either. Try
    playing dentist with him at home. Have him open up while you're
    brushing and tell him you're going to count his teeth just like the
    hygienist will, then tap each tooth with the back of the toothbrush and
    count out loud. Have hime sit in a chair and lean back (a recliner
    would be just the ticket!). Have his dad or a friend shine a flashlight
    into his mouth while you do the tooth counting bit. This will
    familiarize him with the routine.
    
    We take our kids when they hit 3 yrs. old, mostly cause that's when our
    insurance pays for it. We are *very* careful to faithfully brush and
    floss their teeth though, from very early on, and have never had any
    cavity problems. Both Josh and Carrie *love* going to the dentist,
    although Carrie was pretty fearful her first visit. But she was great
    on the 2nd one! I'd go through with the visit, and encourage him as
    much as you can. You can always leave if he is really distressed, but
    he needs to know its important to keep him healthy.
    
    --dave--     

I'm taking my son to the dentist for his first visit this week.
Just found a Berenstein's Bears book about 'First Trip to the
Dentist'.  I'm hoping that going through it and acting it out will
prepare him for it.

-Pam

    Just as an aside...at my daughter's 3 year checkup the pediatrician
    asked if I scheduled a dentist's appointment for her yet.  (I had.) 
    Apparently, dental health is a significant part of the child's overall
    health picture (which surprised me) enough for her pediatrician to note
    the visits on his records.
    
    Mercer Mayer also has a book about a dental visit "Just Going to the
    Dentist."  It's part of the "little critter" series.  
    
    

    The books are a good idea.  You should also call the dentist, explain
    your concern, and ask for advice.  A good pediatric dentist has many
    tricks in his/her bag to deal with this not uncommon problem.

    Well, yesterday was the big day.  I braced myself for the worst only to
    be exceptionally pleased (and proud) of my son's response.  He handled
    the entire treatment from counting, through cleaning, flossing, and
    flouride without any fuss at all!  The hygenist was prepared to limit
    the visit to counting teeth if he struggled at all, but when he
    cooperated she went the limit.
    
    As I stated above, I was very proud of him.  He set his mind to the
    task and just did it.  He was also proud of himself and wanted to be
    sure that we told all of the significant people in his life of his
    accomplishment.  I'm glad we went.  He's no longer frightened, and I
    know his teeth are in good shape.

Glad I found this topic as I will be taking Kathryne (3.5) for
her first dental visit next week.  Her daycare class has made
two field trips to this one's office.  It's set up like a 
"Western" town.  We'll see how it goes!

    Lauren (3.5) and I just went to the dentist last week.. This was her
    third visit. The first time (at 2.5) she just rode in the chair, played
    with the faucet, etc.. the second time she let the dentist look in her
    mouth but that was about all. This time, she was OK with the
    counting/pick part, but wasn't thrilled about the polishing thingy; so,
    I held her im my lap and all was fine. 
    
    I think starting early 'just to visit' is a good idea.
    
    ...tom

    I can't help but wonder if part of the problem is the age?  AJ has had
    more hospitalizations, surgeries; major and minor, more pedi,
    specialist, and clinic visits than I dare count, and what does he do at
    his first dentist visit...he positively frieked out!  It took his
    father and I to hold him still long enough just to look and briefly
    polish. He was a little over 3 at the time.  Six months later I was
    ready for the worst, again.  What does this little bugger do...he
    marches right into the room sits down and demands his toothbrush and
    toothpaste "with the sparkly things in it".(the Crest or Colgate brand
    that tastes like bubblegum and has sparkles, and the matching
    toothbrush with the sparkles in the handle)  No trauma at all!
    
    Trust me if it's the last thing I do I want to be sure he knows to
    brush frequently so he won't have to experience the trauma of having a
    cavity taken care of.  I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'd
    rather experience labor than going to a dentist!!
    
    Lyn
    
    

I hope it's the age.  It took the dentist and two assistants to hold
Kathryne down for a few moments.  This was when the dentist got the
pick out.  She did great for just about everything else.  The cleaning
went fine, so did the flouride.  She currently "doesn't like" Dr.
Leech, but I'm hoping she gets over it in the next 6 months.  I also
let her know it was ok to be scared and to cry and I praised her for
doing such a good job.  She also tried out her new toothbrush, so there
is something positive to associate with the dentist.

I have a couple dental picks from when I used to do wax molds for
jewelry, so I"m going to let her use them on her dolls between
now and then.

Liz