pediatric dentist needed for this - wwyd???

[daisymama12]

My ds, who is 7, has been going to my dentist since he was 3. He is super-cooperative, and we haven't had a problem until now.

He has a cavity, and they tried to take an xray - and failed. The piece they put in his mouth was pretty big, imo. My ds gagged and cried, and the dentist, who I quite like, stopped, and said we'd get the xray next time.

I phoned to ask if they had a smaller piece, one a pediatric dentist would use, and they said we have everything we need, don't worry, it'll be fine. Because my son has never complained before, I think he really felt it was uncomfortable. I don't think I want that thing in his mouth again, esp. since there are smaller ones at pediatric dentists. She said if it didn't work, they would take a panoramic - not sure what the implications of that is... nothing in the mouth, but it takes a picture of the whole mouth?

I could take him to a pediatric dentist, but then I'd have to switch his files over to the new dentist - the pd won't only do a filling. I've been happy with my family dentist, but I don't want to create a fear of dentists by putting that piece in his mouth again, I know he hates it.

wwyd??

[Mosaic]

You have a dentist that you love, who your son has seen often, who respectfully skipped the x-ray when it was clear it wasn't working out, yet you're considering finding a new pediatric dentist, paying a new patient fee and extra for x-rays, etc.?



In your position, I'd try your regular dentist again another day. Those stupid mouth thingies are uncomfortable, and smaller ones are still uncomfortable. If they say they can work with him and help make it better next time, I'd be inclined to believe him. The panoramic is also standard at my dentist office... it's not a big deal. Honestly, if he has a cavity that needs to be treated, that's more involved than some uncomfortable plastic junk in his mouth, and dentists have a good track record encouraging and rewarding kids for suffering through dental discomfort. I would definitely stick with someone you know and like over someone with smaller x-ray mouth pieces!

[Ruthla]

I'd go with the panoramic. That's what my new dentist uses, and it is SO much more comfortable! I don't know exactly how much radiation is used, but I can't imagine it would use any more than a series of "traditional" X-rays uses.

[daisymama12]

ok, that's a good reality check! Thanks for the perspective.

It was pretty troubling to me to see ds gagging and crying and resisting that xray, because it's so unlike him. My thinking was that I shouldn't subject him to an adult size xray piece, and I still wish that they had a smaller one.

I'm going to go to our appt. next week, with our family dentist, and hope it works out. If not, we'll go from there.

thanks!

[daisymama12]

I know this is a really old thread, but thought I'd update as the OP.

I took my ds back to our family dentist, who actually asked us to go see a pediatric dentist, because she thought his small mouth was beyond her scope. I really respect her for this.

However, once we went to the pediatric dentist, it turns out he has a bunch of cavities, and he needed a root canal (well, a polpotomy sp?) in one area. I was pretty upset - how could the family dentist have missed all this???? She had mentioned that she was "watching" a few cavities. If we'd (she'd) been proactive, I wonder if it would have been as bad. Some people have told me that they can progress quickly,but still... Especially since we go every 6 months.

I am now bringing both my kids to the pediatric dentist only.