Desperately need pediatric dentist recommendation in Twin Cities

[krmom]

Over the weekend, I noticed some spots on the teeth of my younger son (22 months). We went to our pediatrician and she recommended an appointment with a pediatric dentist. We went to see the pediatric dentist she suggested this morning. He was kind and gentle, but he recommended weaning from night nursing since he is of the belief that it is part of the cause of my son's decay (on his front four teeth). I disagreed with him, and I can live with this disagreement--we'll continue to nurse until he's ready to wean, but I'll just be more vigilant about brushing and rinsing his teeth, no more fruit juice during the day, etc.

My bigger concern is that this dentist's suggested treatment for my son is day surgery with general anesthesia at Children's Hospital. I would like to get another opinion to see if there are any other treatment options that would NOT involve general anesthesia.

Does anyone know of a pediatric dentist in the TC metro area who is AP friendly?

[mplsmom]

A mom at my last ECFE class had a very similar problem. Her 2 year old had small nursing cavities on her front teeth. Her first dentist recomended capping and weaning! She found another place that she just loved!! they were able to fix the cavities, and they were great with the child. I am pretty sure that name of the clinic is Metropolitan Pediatric Dental Associates in North Oaks, #(651)484-8611

Good luck,
Kirsten

[Sara Mama]

We see Dr. Path at Health Partners in St. Paul.

He was great with my son (at the time around 30 months). I didn't tell him that my son was still nursing -- it just never came up.

Anyway, he's a wonderful doctor, but I think you have to have Health Partners insurance to see him.

Good Luck.

[Snow]

Our dentist used to have a pediatric specialty as a family dentist and then she changed offices so isn't officially listed as pediatric now, but is still great w/ kids. She's grandma with small hands and a gentle manner and is in Edina close to 44th and France.
as far as AP friendly - I doubt she's ever heard of it, lol! But our dds have both been seeing her since they were babies. She doesn't do general anasthesia in her office so if that was needed you'd have to go elsewhere like we had to when littlest got a tooth knocked loose earlier this year.
FWIW, both Childrens Hospitals in Mpls and Childrens West rock - we love them and how they treated our daughters and us. My inclination would be to get a 2nd opinion, but if the 2nd dentist recommends the general, I'd do it. good luck

[krmom]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll try the dentist in North Oaks.

After thinking about this for a couple of days, I'm now thinking that maybe nightweaning will be something that we can do. We don't have to wean during the day, but my older son weaned from night nursing at around 2 yrs. and my little guy will be 2 in just 6 weeks. I tried offering him a sippy cup of water a few times last night, and telling him that we could nurse for just "a little bit" and then I would rub his back. He went back to sleep that way all three times that he woke up. So maybe he's ready.

I would still like to find an alternative to the general anesthesia, though. But I don't want to make him terrified of dentists either. And his teeth need to be fixed.

I think I'll go for the second opinion and then make a decision.

His surgery is scheduled for Children's in St. Paul. I've only been there once, when my older son had to have stitches after a fall at 18 mos. They were great, though, as I recall.

Anyway, thanks for the support.

[cattrane]

i thought there was a thread on this! we've seen Dr Fong with met ped dental (in st paul though so it takes forever to get in LOL) and i've really liked her - some of the technicians have made breastfeeding comments but Dr Fong's view is they have some kids who come in sucking soda out of a bottle with perfect teeth, and some kids who drink only water who have horrid teeth so do what you can.

we also had ds's surgery done at children's in st paul and it was GREAT!!! in my opinion it is MUCH better for the kid and dentist to undergo general anesthesia for 15 minutes than to have to do repeated sedation visits. we tried both, and the in-office visit with nitrous wasn't much fun...ds was loopy and didn't feel what was going on at all but he kept saying Help Mama Help Mama which sucked.... *he* wasn't traumatized by it because the staff was so great but dh totally was!!!

at children's they fully explain EVERYTHING before you go in, and Dr Fong had as well before we even made the appt. they practiced putting the mask on ds so he could get a feel for it while he was playing in the waiting room. they get to pick which "flavor" anesthesia they want (they smear lipsmackers on the mask, it totally works :) ) so he totally felt all proud that he was making decisions about his "surgaree." they have separate induction rooms so parents get to hold their kids while they are induced via mask and then the kiddos are wheeled into the back to be intubated.

one thing to be aware of - kids induce (fall asleep) VERY FAST - they had dh count to five and ds made it to two - and it's very common for them to breathe really fast and shallow and make small noises when they exhale. it's all very normal, but it really freaked dh out (i see similar things at work with a vet so i think i was more prepared).

the gas they use is called sevofluorane and is EXTREMELY safe for kids - it's metabolized fast enough that they turn the gas off and it is literally gone from their system within seconds, so ZERO lasting effects on the liver or kidneys - which is really the main concern for general anesthesia vs sedation and in this case sevo is safer in my opinion than nitrous. children's has pediatric anesthesiologists monitoring your kiddo the whole time, another big plus for doing the surgery at children's - and you get to hang out and cuddle while your kiddo wakes up in a cushy recovery room (comfy gliders, i thought!)

overall we were so happy with our experience that ds and dh visit a few times a year (ds always has given hot wheels to children's for birthday/yule but now asks to go all the time). he talked about going to the hospital, go to sleep, fix my teeth so they feel better for seriously about one year, so it made a great impression on him too. much easier and nicer than in the clinic :D

one thing you can do (if you haven't gone already! i'm so late to this thread!) is practice the mask beforehand, like in the bathtub or whatever. we just used a cup and practiced placing it over his mouth and nose, and counted to five and pretended he fell asleep and i would catch him.

if you have any questions, let me know or snoop around the dental forum - smilemomma has made some reallly comprehensive archives over there with TONS of threads on exactly this subject! it's very common so don't worry, you guys will be great!

[browneyedsol]

Blue has dental needs, I have dental needs, Fish has dental needs...and I am putting it off. Can you say DENTIST FEAR??!!

O I am stressing...even when cattrane makes it sound like a night out...:crap :scared :tiptoe

[cattrane]

night out for my kiddo, not for me!!!

i have total fear, very irrational - haven't been to a dentist since something horrid happened to a friend... no details 'cuz i'm sure i just freaked us both out enough!! anyway it is something that would be just about impossible to happen at a normal visit but i still am freaked.... plus that whole procrastination-guilt-procrastinate some more complex dentists just LOVE :D

i totally have cavities, can feel 'em in the winter and when eating crappy chocolate

clench my teeth probably 12 hours a day without realizing, most definitely in my sleep

ya think i need to go????? like five years ago! shees!!!

i wish the holistic docs weren't so bloody hard to get into because that's what i need, someone with holistic knowledge to look at my fillings and tell me whether they've hit their life span and should come out

[Sara Mama]

Summerlover and I both HATE going to the dentist, but we have the same one and love him. Dr. Tom Vukodinovich (or something like that) on Snelling near Randolph in St. Paul. The whole office is fabulous and I've had major crowns, fillings and...root canal there.

They take most any insurance and will help you navigate insurance -- ie they will tell you to part 1 this calendar year and then part 2 come january so you don't max out your insurance...and they have payment plans.

Gentle and empathetic.

[Snow]

hey brown & cattrane - get thee into a dentist now mamas. Don't wait till it gets bad. Am sure sara mamas guy is a good one. Or if you want one in our area then try my Grandma-Dentist at 44th Street Dental in Edina, near 50th and France. She's sweet and has small hands and is gentle. She doesn't mind explaining things and will do emergencies as we found out this yr w/ M.
name is Dr Carol Mason and she's great w/ kids too as are the techs. M and Q love them. And they have a cool toy drawer that the kids get to pick something out of when they are finished. And D (the biggest dental weenie) even goes to her twice a year and hardly compains - this is huge!
Mamas - you must take care of yourselves.

[browneyedsol]

:Bow OOOOOOKAY! :brush

Thank you wise woman.

:drool

I know, I know...but it *sounds* easy...this takin' care of oneself thang.

I'll call around tomorrow.

:toothy