First Dentist Appt? What to expect & other ?s

[ellairiesmom]

At our 2.5 check up, our Doc mentioned that DD1 was very cooperative when she looked in her mouth & maybe we should try & go ahead with her 1st dental appt. I was assuming we would wait till 3 but September is around the corner anyway...so I guess I'm thinking about making an appt.

Do we have to go to a Pediatric Dentist?

Do they require xrays? Are there safer xrays for children? Digital?

What else happens at the 1st visit for a toddler?

DD has one eye tooth that came in a little crooked & when I got a good look at it recently I saw it had some staining on it-we often miss a day of brushing. And the way it's sitting makes it blocked a bit by the tooth in front of it. It's not awful-but am I going to get an earful over it?

[momtoTnT]

We went to a pediatric dentist (but I don't think you have to) - I chose the one I went to as a kid, so I knew kind of what it would be like for my kids (they get to watch movies while in the chair - tv's are mounted at each chair - they get to have prizes, etc etc etc).

My daughter was very scared at the dentist (still is to a degree) - our first visit, she sat on my lap for the entire time. The hygienist and the dentist followed her lead - when she was done cooperating, they stopped and it wasn't a big deal. They didn't force her to do anything. The next visit, they made sure she got the "quiet room" - so she didn't have to see what was happening to the other kids (some orthdontics etc) - and she still got to sit on my lap.

Her first visit, she ended up getting her teeth brushed, wiped (she wouldn't allow Mr. Thirsty/the straw into her mouth) and counted. No x-rays until she was closer to 5 (this last appt).

I wouldn't worry about her eye tooth - they may talk about it - but that is all that happened at our visit - my dd has staining on both of her eye teeth and they just told us we'd watch it. Never any pressure about brushing/flossing either - just a reminder that mom or dad really should get to take a turn brushing after she does.