I posted last week about my ds having decalcification. We just got back from his first visit with a pediatric dentist. I'm emotionally exhausted, and he's asleep (2 hrs earlier than usual.)
The hygenist was an older lady, one of those fake friendly people. Everything was said with a big grin and goofy voice, but there was zero warmth or compassion there. Twice during the tooth brushing and fluoride application ds got scared and started to cry. I asked her to stop for a minute, and she refused. Then I tried to physically move her hands out of ds' mouth, and she resisted me, saying "I have to finish getting the toothpaste/fluoride out or he'll get a tummy ache."
Then we saw the dentist. He wasn't much better. After examining all his teeth, and scraping a bit at the front two (that have cavities), he then wanted to "show" dh and I what the cavities looked like. Ds had had enough by this point and was crying and getting more and more upset. So I told the dentist to stop and that he could explain what was going on to me instead of having to show me in ds's mouth. Dentist gave me a look, and attitude. At this point I guess he realized I was an overprotective, difficult mother.
The dentist said ds has cavities on 2 of his front teeth that need to be filled. I asked him how this would be done, and he said they'd wrap him in a towel and "just do it." I asked if it was going to hurt, and he couldn't tell me for sure. I explained that we don't want to frighten ds any more than necessary, and told him that I didn't like how the hygenist had responded to ds getting upset and me asking her to stop. Dentist then said if that's how we feel, and we don't want ds to cry, then the only way to fill ds's teeth is at the hospital under general anesthesia.
I thought he was a complete ass. He also said in several ways that we need to do better about dental care, and he won't even fill ds's cavities until we've had several follow ups so he can be sure we're brushing twice a day and using the fluoride paste since "I could fill these and he'd have 10 more the next week" if not.
I thought ds did great. He layed down, opened his mouth, and allowed a certain amount of fiddling around in his mouth before he'd had enough. I'm pretty sure if they just gave him a minute, and were genuinely warm and understanding of the needs of a young child, it would have been fine.
I'm going to call every mom I know around here to try to find a better ped dentist. Could someone reassure me that there are better dentists/hygenists out there, and that dental care does not have to be traumatic for us?
The hygenist was an older lady, one of those fake friendly people. Everything was said with a big grin and goofy voice, but there was zero warmth or compassion there. Twice during the tooth brushing and fluoride application ds got scared and started to cry. I asked her to stop for a minute, and she refused. Then I tried to physically move her hands out of ds' mouth, and she resisted me, saying "I have to finish getting the toothpaste/fluoride out or he'll get a tummy ache."
Then we saw the dentist. He wasn't much better. After examining all his teeth, and scraping a bit at the front two (that have cavities), he then wanted to "show" dh and I what the cavities looked like. Ds had had enough by this point and was crying and getting more and more upset. So I told the dentist to stop and that he could explain what was going on to me instead of having to show me in ds's mouth. Dentist gave me a look, and attitude. At this point I guess he realized I was an overprotective, difficult mother.
The dentist said ds has cavities on 2 of his front teeth that need to be filled. I asked him how this would be done, and he said they'd wrap him in a towel and "just do it." I asked if it was going to hurt, and he couldn't tell me for sure. I explained that we don't want to frighten ds any more than necessary, and told him that I didn't like how the hygenist had responded to ds getting upset and me asking her to stop. Dentist then said if that's how we feel, and we don't want ds to cry, then the only way to fill ds's teeth is at the hospital under general anesthesia.
I thought he was a complete ass. He also said in several ways that we need to do better about dental care, and he won't even fill ds's cavities until we've had several follow ups so he can be sure we're brushing twice a day and using the fluoride paste since "I could fill these and he'd have 10 more the next week" if not.
I thought ds did great. He layed down, opened his mouth, and allowed a certain amount of fiddling around in his mouth before he'd had enough. I'm pretty sure if they just gave him a minute, and were genuinely warm and understanding of the needs of a young child, it would have been fine.
I'm going to call every mom I know around here to try to find a better ped dentist. Could someone reassure me that there are better dentists/hygenists out there, and that dental care does not have to be traumatic for us?
I did LOTS of cleanings w/ little ones sitting on mom/dads lap or sitting in my chair and me on my knees LOL ( used to kill my back but hey they are only scared a time or to and then I could use the chair again).
