What to expect at first dentist visit?

[Mandala126]

Hi,
DD is 3 and she's going to the dentis for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have no idea what to expect. I got the intake papaerwork at home and it mentions laughing gas and pediatric restraints for children who don't sit still. This is scary to me, she's 3, I know she won't sit still. They also mention the possibility of asking the parent to leave the room when his/her presence hinders the treatment.
Can you Mamas share your first dental visit experiences with your LO's? I'd love to know what awaits me.
BTW, is laughing gas safe???
Thank you!!!!
Aneta

[Peony]

I would not be cool with a practice that mentions that in their intake papers! We used to go to pedi dentist because we had to because of DD1's severe decay, there was only one dentist there that didn't use the papoose board and I made sure to always see him. As soon as we got those fixed, I switched her to my dentist which is a family practice one.DD2 hasn't had caries yet, she is 3 as well so she goes to my dentist as well, every 6 months for a check and cleaning.

I have experienced it two different ways at the different offices. At the pedi one they often would ask parents to leave, DD1 was not allowed to sit near me or on my lap, they would ask me to help restrain her. And would count, clean the teeth according to their time schedule regardless if she needed a couple more minutes of the dentist taking to her before he went poking around in her mouth. At our family dentist the children sit in my lap laying back on me, I can have my other children with me (at the pedi office they are not allowed even in the waiting room). He talks to my child, shows her the tools, what he is going to do to her, pretends to count and clean my teeth and then does it to the child. Huge difference!

[ellairiesmom]

subbing-didn't want to crash your thread since you have some specific ?s & I had some of my own-i just posted a similar thread a few moments ago but also wanted to follow along this one to maximize my feedback

[liliaceae]

Originally Posted by Mandala126

Hi,
DD is 3 and she's going to the dentis for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have no idea what to expect. I got the intake papaerwork at home and it mentions laughing gas and pediatric restraints for children who don't sit still. This is scary to me, she's 3, I know she won't sit still. They also mention the possibility of asking the parent to leave the room when his/her presence hinders the treatment.
Can you Mamas share your first dental visit experiences with your LO's? I'd love to know what awaits me.
BTW, is laughing gas safe???
Thank you!!!!
Aneta

Yikes! I would not go to that dentist, and there is no way I would give nitrous oxide to my 3 year old! Can you possibly find another dentist to take her to?

[eli's mama]

is it possible that those are just disclaimers like "we have all this stuff that we can use if you are cool with it"? some parents would be ok with that stuff. The first time my kids went to the dentist all they did was sit them in the chair and show them all the cool tools and gadgets. They didn't actually "do" anything. the second time they were very easy going just brushed and counted teeth.

Does your child have something wrong with their teeth, a reason you are going?

[Mandala126]

The reason I'm going is that a friend told me that we should start at 3yrs old (a dentist told me that they like to see babies when they first get teeth but I think that's way too early), she doesn't complain of any toothaches. I think her teeth are just fine, I just thought we'd do the first check up but now I'm rethinking it.

Yes, the scary stuff is just a disclaimer, I crossed off a bunch of stuff and initialed it.

Oh dear, I don't know what to do now. DD keeps saying she does not want to go.

..... I think I'll cancel.

Thank you for all your good advice!! It was a big help.