Wednesday, May 13, 2009

J's work is having open enrollment for their insurance right now. I have no idea when kids should have their first eye or dental checkups. Any advice?

My poor kids are gonna most likely have inherited their mama and daddy's need for glasses and serious need for braces way down the line. Let's hope they got their daddy's smart genes and their mama's love of reading too! I think E's definitely shown signs of having both of those last two traits and boy did his bottom teeth come in awful crooked! And those are just his baby teeth!

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says this:

Q. When should my child first see a dentist?

"First visit by first birthday" sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. This visit will establish a dental home for your child. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future.
Pediatric Dentistry

And Bausch and Lomb says this about eye exams:
Children should have a comprehensive eye exam by a licensed eye doctor at six months, 3 years of age, before first grade and every two years thereafter or as recommended. The doctor will determine if your child needs vision correction and check for common eye disorders.
Eye exams

What do you parents think? Are these suggested times too early for these exams? When Jason first asked me about it, I guessed eye exam right before school started and dental exam around three or so but from the looks of it I was WAY off. What do you think?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think your guestimations were right on. The latest news is saying that children should be seen at their dentist by 1 years old...which even my dentist says is completely redicilious...no one year old will even sit for an exam!

So...here's what I do. I bring my kids to the dentist at 2 years old w/ zero expectations and if they only get to ride in the chair and they count their teeth...so be it. I was lucky and all 3 of mine cooperated fine and actually were able to get the full exam but not every child is down with that at 2. Then every six months following.

Eyes, I would just let the pediatrician and school handle that. If there was anything going on the pedicatrician will catch it.

That's my 2 cents... :)

Anonymous said...

I took logan to the dentist for the first time at 2. They checked for cavities and did a floride treatment, I've taken him every 6 months since. I didn't take him sooner b/c he didn't get any teeth until he was 14 months old and insurance reasons. I think it's just a matter of starting good habits early.
As for the eyes, I've never taken him. I've never noticed any problems so I didn't see a need. Although recently when he had really bad allergy problems and he's eyes swelled shut the doctor checked them in the office and wasn't concerned. I'd say it's hard to check your eyes when you don't know what the letters are. She did it with shapes. As long as he's not running into things and stuff I would just wait until school.
Anyway just what I did and may thoughts. Can't wait for you to have that baby. I have some very cute very pink stuff to send you. =)
Kristy

Anonymous said...

Mason had his first dental appointment at 3. Alexa's first appointment will be at 3 too. We found an awesome pediatric dentist. They have movies playing right by the chairs or they can play video games. Everything is geared to keep them entertained. He loves it. They schedule the younger siblings with the older siblings so they don't feel alone. All I know is Jason and I would have loved going to the orthodontist for hours on end if we had Dr Morrow.

As for the eyes. I asked our Dr about when to take them for the appointment. She said if we noticed problems we could have them checked. She recommended waiting until he started school b/c they do once a year screenings.

TTYL Leslie

P.S. Mason loves his book!

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