Age of 1st dentist appointment?

I took my son after he turned 3. My daughter will be 3 in August, and I just set up her first dental appointment for September.

My boys were 3 and 5 for their first dentist appointments and they went really well. It helped that the older one went first and set the stage for my younger son. I plan on starting our youngest at around age 3.
However, I have a friend who plans to take their boys when they turn 1.
SAHM to 3 Boys!

My dentist recommends age 2 for their first appt. They don't do a whole lot. Just introduce them to the instruments, look at their teeth. Get them so they aren't afraid to go back. So a little cleaning. That is when I plan on taking mine.

I took my youngest son and daughter when he was 5, she was 3. I had been trying to take my son for a cleaning for over a year, but he was really scared (thanks to my husband telling Noah horror stories about the dentist to make him brush his teeth grrr). The office was really cool about it and let me bring Noah in when his older sisters had their teeth cleaned, so by the time he was 5 he was brave enough to climb up in the chair and have his teeth cleaned. That first time I had to sit right beside him and hold his hand, but the next time he went back all by himself.
Moral of the story...Never convince your kids to brush their teeth by telling them how horrible the dentist can be!

We went at 2 and partly cuz she had a binky. They didnt do much but look at the teeth and use a few instruments in her mouth and they said we could come back at 3 and then they would start the every 6 months. It really helped us get her to brush better (i am not the type of mom to hold down a kid and brush for her), and it help start talking about the binky going bye bye and he told her "next time i see you, the binky will be gone, right?" And she loved him and was like yes, so when we went cold turkey a few months later it helped.

I asked my dentist what he thought, and he said that my twins (3&1/2 years old) didn't really need to get their teeth cleaned or anything, but that when I came to my next appointment that I should bring them along and let them climb in the chair and get their teeth counted, etc. So I brought them to my appt., and everyone was soooo nice! The hygenist had some "extra time" so she spent over 30 minutes with them, letting them sit in the chair, counting their teeth, giving them "presents" (toothbrushes and timers, etc) and reading them a story about a dinasaur and his trip to the dentist! If anyone is looking for a dentist, I would recommend these guys....EVERYONE in the office is SOOO friendly! It is Prarie Dental Center on South Minnesota, and I see Dr. Nichols.

good question!! i have always wondered this, as every parenting magazine out there seems to say they need to go at or before 1 year of age. i always thought that was WAY too early!! i called to set up an appt for my daughter when she was 1yo and the receptionist basically laughed at me and said they don't see children until they are 2-3yo. is it better to take them to a pediatric dentist? does it really matter where they go??

My daughter will be 3 in September and she is going for her 1st dentist appointment today!

I took my daughter when she was 3. Now every time I have an appt she wants to go too! I go every 6 mo, but my dentist said once a year for now is fine for her. But they always let her sit in the chair and take home a toothbrush.

We're going to be making an appt sometime this summer for Dakota. (turns 2 on Saturday) The dentist said they'd pretty much just see if they can even see his teeth, as most kids won't let you do much...but its more of getting them used to the place more than anything! So we're going to try and take him in with us for one our appts...and then have his own appt as well.

I started taking each of my kids when they were each one. They go to Children's Dental Center. They look at the kids in a consultation room from the age of 1 until they are 2 while they are sitting on your lap. Once they turn three they take them back on their own. My kids love going there and they will see them up until they are 18 years old. They have a new Teen Clinic area where the kids go once they turn 12 so they dont have to feel like they are with little kids. It is a great place and I would recommend any of the 5 dentists that work there.