Dentist appointment drama

[PumpkinSeeds]

O. M. G.

If you don't already have a dentist for your little ones, I highly recommend you search around and ask your neighbors about good dentists for kids. Even if you think your child is too small or you don't think you need a dentist yet make an appointment and establish yourself as a routine patient in their practice.

[krizzanne]

oh no, what happened?

[PumpkinSeeds]

We've been waiting over a year to get a major cavity filled (as in half the tooth has crumbled) in my 5yo. Apparently, it will be several more months to get an appointment as the waiting lists are very huge.

[sarahmck]

That's really strange. We we able to make an appointment with the first dentist we tried with no wait. My husband says that your dentist (as opposed to your children's dentist, as I gather that they have no dentist) ought to see them immediately for emergency work.

Have you called around to lots of dentists? If he's in pain and really needs the work done, perhaps you should consider coming to Amsterdam or somewhere else where the dentists will see people quickly.

[PumpkinSeeds]

I should have clarified. I was very upset yesterday when I posted.

My son has been to two different dentists a total of 5 times and he just would not let them even get past looking in his mouth. They referred us to a "special" dentist for children who are anxious. We have been on their waiting list since forever. Yesterday I called to try to put some urgency into getting seen since he's having pain now. She basically told me that even when we do get an appointment (and not for several more months), it will take several months to get the tooth fixed as they do several visits over time to get him more comfortable at the dentist.


Our original dentist won't see him as they feel they can't do anything for him. I can make him an appointment for any other regular dentist, but if he won't lie there and let them do the work they don't want to see him.

Anyways, I've made another appointment for thursday with a third dentist and we'll see how it goes.

:dizzy:

[clogmama]

I hope that all goes well at your appointment on Thursday Please send an update! My 5 year old son also looks like he has a cavity in his mouth which sometimes causes pain. We have a dentist appointment in Utrecht on Thursday the 22nd. He has also refused to open his mouth at previous appointments. Do you know what the procedure is for dealing with tooth decay and baby teeth? Besides waiting a long time, will they eventually give the child fillings or pull the tooth?

[clogmama]

I just re-read your post and answered my question about fillings....

[PumpkinSeeds]

They do give composite resin fillings (the white ones). The whole procedure lasts about 15 minutes (or less). Good luck with your appointment. I will update on Thursday.

[krizzanne]

ooooohhhh, your poor son! I can't imagine them leaving kids for months with tooth pain! I hope the 3rd dentist is a charm for you.

[PumpkinSeeds]

Ok, we went to the jeugdtandverzorging. It was a much more kid oriented office, obviously. Lots of kids in the waiting area, brightly colored posters. The only thing is that the "stations" were separated only by a half wall, so you could kind of see all of the kids getting work done. Some of them were screaming and my son got kind of freaked out by it.

He cried at first and the lady was very nice and talked him down. Then he went to get an xray and he actually let her put the film into his mouth. But, alas the xray machine was broken. She then took him back to the chair and she looked around in his mouth and he didn't cry. She thought that the rotten tooth could be too far gone and they might just leave it, but she said she saw another cavity on the top jaw.

We have to go back in two weeks to try to get the xray.

All in all, much better, at least he let her look in his mouth. We will see in two weeks though...

[krizzanne]

Well, I am glad at least he was more comfortable at this dentist. If they just 'leave the tooth' won't he continue to have pain/problems?

Thanks for the heads-up about getting the kids into a dentist early, I was thinking about it, and I know it would be a good idea so they will be comfortable now for later problems.

[PumpkinSeeds]

There's a Barraki in the house! We went this morning to get the tooth fixed and I must say this new dentist is amazing. She really has a knack with kids, and my son didn't even cry at all. So, I had to make good on my promise of a new toy (yes, I had to resort to bribery).


I can't believe we wasted so much time with the other dentists. I wish we had been referred there in the first place.

:)

[krizzanne]

Wow, that is FABULOUS!
Excuse my ignorance, what is a Barraki?

So was it the dentist?...or the bribery? that worked :wink

and his tooth is fixed? that's wonderful not to have to worry anymore.

[PumpkinSeeds]

:bag:

Barraki (http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=8917)

[krizzanne]

:laugh: I was reading online last night while Aidan was sleeping in my lap, and when I opened the link and then thought of your quote 'there's a baraki in the house!' I started shaking from trying to laugh quietly and I woke him up anyway. That is halarious.

[hazieluna]

Just curious, when do you recommend taking a kid to the dentist for the first time? I don't have any children yet but I completely understand your frustration trying to find a dentist, since I had a lot of trouble finding one for myself when I moved into the center of Amsterdam.

[PumpkinSeeds]

Natalia, I don't know when the best time is to start taking them to a dentist. But my younger son is almost 3 and I'm thinking of taking him for his first check up, just so he gets used to sitting in the chair and having someone poke around in his mouth.