[AmyY]

I need to know what to ask when calling around, I want to find a dentist for my girls, they will be 3 at the end of September. As far as I can see or smell there are no problems so it's just an initial visit.

I called one and they are taking new patients in March of 2007. I called the number that office recommended and got the following: after 3 they have to go alone I stay in waiting room; they restrain to do work; they use nitrous oxide which may or may not be covered but they require it no matter your insurance coverage.

Am I right to be appalled and horrified? I made an appointment Friday afternoon knowing I can cancel, and I plan to do so first thing Monday morning. But is this what I am in for with pediatric dentists? Please tell me no!

What should I be looking for? What should I ask? I don't even consider myself the crunchiest oat cluster in the granola bin, but I was horrified. Now I have to call that office back again (shudder) to cancel the appointment.

Help me out mamas! TIA!

 

[zannster]

There are a lot of different philosophies among pediatric dentists out there. I got some initial suggestions from my pediatrician and my local playgroup's mailing list. The first dentist we saw gave us advice we didn't like (for DS's cavities), and he gave us some suggestions of colleagues (a couple of which we'd heard about elsewhere), so we looked into those. I'm sure that one of them allows parents to be nearby while the work is being done, because when we visited, we could see into all the treatment areas (glass partitions). The others, I'm not so sure about.

I guess you just have to ask about the things that most concern you...i.e. if you want to be nearby when work is done, if they can get tooth-colored fillings, what anesthesia methods they use (or don't use), etc.

 

[WuWei]

RUN! No Way for a million dollars would I take our son there.

. We have been to three dentists with our son and he has always been treated with respect and his body space integrity honored. You just need to state your expectations up front. Call around. And stand your ground.

Practice pretend "dental check ups" at home, get books and videos. There is a Wiggles one. And have them join you at your check ups. Go for "just say hi" appointments in advance and reschedule if they don't want the examination that day. Our dentists are all fine with this. You are a paying customer. "The customer is always right" remember?

What a horrifying practice. Cancel now! Ask around at the local LLL or Holistic Moms groups. Or check the AP International for support in your area. This is not necessary and is traumatizing to children. And don't fall for the 'we'll call you if they need you'. A friend's 9 year old was told that she 'could not go talk to her mom until the examination was completed'. She just started yelling, and fortunately the mom heard her and came. They had specified and believed that she would be told of the daughter's request for her support. Nope. No way would I leave my child's side in a dentist chair until they had the ability to climb down if they wanted to. Holding the child against their will is very violating of their body integrity, imo.

Pat

 

[AmyY]

Hey again Pat! Nice to see you here too!

:

I'm so sorry I forgot to come back and update.

I called to cancel at about 8:01 on Monday morning - whew!

I then called the dentist everyone recommends and of course the next new patient appointment is in March but the woman on the phone talked me through in detail how to look for problems in the meantime and said they'll of course see them on a moment's notice if there'e s problem before March. Also she just laughed at theidea that I wouldn't be able to go in with them - "of course they're too young to go in by themselves!" Like it was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard.

So - whew again.

Thanks for the Wiggles recommendation. We have some big Wiggles fans here. We may check the library for books first.

 

[dentmom3]

I am a VERY new member here, but I'm a dentist IRL so if I may add my .02?

I would NEVER force a parent to be out of the room! Not for a 12 year old, much less for a 3 year old! Oh my goodness!! Nor do I ever restrain a patient. I strongly believe (and express this to parents if they are frustrated that their child is not cooperating) that the child who is uncooperative/scared today, may just be great the next time. So if things seem to be headed south, I stop where I am and tell them that I would rather they come back again to finish up instead of forcing a child to do something and creating a phobic patient for the rest of their life!!!!

We were taught a 'tell, show, do' method of pediatric dentistry. I show the child everything that I am going to do first. I squirt water on their hand, show them the 'headlights' of the handpiece (drill) let them feel the filling material in their hand before I try anything in their mouth.

I will

: as I say that we do use amalgam in our practice for those families that want it, but again that is entirely parents choice! Most often we use composites (tooth colored) materials and most often we do not anesthetize children. They are frequently more bothered by the anesthesia than the actual filling.

Lastly, prevention is the best dentistry! So I spend time at hygiene visits talking to moms and dads about junk foods, high carb snacks and good oral hygiene. My two pet peeves in life are those rotten fruit snacks and chocolate milk!

Hope this helps...