"Dentists are great, but $50 for a quick peek at two tiny teeth does feel a little steep! Maybe I'm just cheap, haha."
Haha, I totally get that feeling...but isn't the first visit more about getting kids comfortable with the dentist rather than an actual check-up? I mean, my dentist friend always says it's about building good habits early. But yeah, 50 bucks for a quick glance does sting a bit. Did your kid handle it okay at 18 months, or was it meltdown city?
I totally understand the sticker shock...50 bucks does seem a bit much for a quick glance. But honestly, those early visits really do help kids get comfortable with the dentist chair and all the weird tools. My niece had her first visit around the same age, and it was mostly just counting teeth and chatting about brushing habits. She cried a little at first, but by the end, she was proudly showing off her toothbrush. Hang in there—it gets easier each time.
I get why it feels like a lot for what seems like just a quick glance, but honestly, those early visits can save you headaches down the road. My own kids didn't start going until they were about three or four, and by then, my youngest had already developed a pretty strong fear of the dentist. It took several visits and a very patient hygienist to get him comfortable again. Looking back, I wish we'd started earlier—just simple check-ins to familiarize him with the chair and tools might've made things smoother.
On the flip side, my granddaughter went at around one year old, and even though it seemed kind of pointless at first (mostly just counting teeth and chatting about brushing), she's never had any anxiety about dental visits. She actually looks forward to picking out her toothbrush now...go figure.
So yeah, while $50 might sting a bit now, think of it as an investment in avoiding future meltdowns. Just my two cents from experience.
"Looking back, I wish we'd started earlier—just simple check-ins to familiarize him with the chair and tools might've made things smoother."
I totally get where you're coming from. When money's tight, every little expense feels like a big deal, especially something that seems as minor as counting teeth. But honestly, your point about early familiarity is spot-on. My daughter didn't go until she was almost four because we were trying to save money, and by then she was already pretty anxious about the whole dentist thing. It took multiple visits (and a lot of patience from everyone involved) to get her comfortable again.
If I could do it over, I'd probably bite the bullet and start earlier too. Even though it feels like you're paying for not much more than a quick peek, those early visits really do help build trust and comfort. Think of it as preventive maintenance—like changing the oil in your car regularly instead of waiting for something to break down. It's annoying to pay upfront, but it saves you stress (and possibly bigger bills) later on. Hang in there...you're doing great by even thinking this through now.
"Even though it feels like you're paying for not much more than a quick peek, those early visits really do help build trust and comfort."
Yeah, I see your point here, but I'm still on the fence. Did your dentist suggest a specific age to start these check-ins? Because mine said around one year old, and honestly, that seemed really early to me. At that point, my kid barely had any teeth at all—what exactly are they checking for besides a quick glance?
We waited until about two and a half with my son, mostly because I figured he wouldn't even sit still long enough for them to look inside his mouth. And to be fair, the first visit was pretty much what you'd expect—a lot of squirming, a quick peek, and some stickers afterward (which were definitely the highlight for him). But I guess you're right about building familiarity...by the second visit, he knew what to expect, and it went smoother.
Still, I'm curious if anyone else got different advice from their dentist. Is there really a big difference between starting at one versus waiting until two or three? I mean, I get the preventive maintenance analogy—makes sense—but at the same time, is it really necessary to start that early? Or is this one of those things dentists recommend just to cover all their bases?
Also, does insurance typically cover these early visits fully? Because ours was pretty spotty about covering dental stuff for kids under three. That might've influenced our decision too (not gonna lie). Anyway, appreciate hearing everyone's experiences—helps to know we're all figuring it out as we go along.
