DD6 is getting 1st filling today! Help!

[brenalexacamp]

OMG Minkeydog- I say that all the time too- Never underestimate the determination of a mother with a handicapped child. My son has Down's--although seeing my 20 yr old tonight trying to figure out how to turn the grill on-----I have some concerns! lol

 

[freckles and boo]

I am a dental hygienist-I work in pediatrics- I ask the parents to come in 1st visit- see everything- ask questions-it is when it turns into a circus that we ask the parents to step outside. Today i had a mom come in-talk to me about her 4 yr old's pacifier, sippy cup, diaper wearing issues! She wanted me to put the seed in her head about giving up the pac, great- I call the child-she starts-daddy, daddy- i say one parent can come- he totally ignored me and said to the wife you come too- I said the room is small, please one- he totally blew me off- picked up the child and was aksing her if she wanted to sit in the chair! HUH? Then the mother started taking pictures! Guess what- between the mother getting photos, the dad hugging her and he head in his neck- No one is listening to me!! I did what i could and dismissed them. I told the parents- Next visit- she comes in alone- it is impossible for her to hear me with all the distractions. The main issue is parents cannot be silent observers. We can take control over the appt and your child will have a great experience- you just have to let us do our jobs. We don't force- we wait, explain, show, then do. Nitrous is a wonderful thing! We let the kids pick out their flavor and they put it on their own nose-they blow bubbles- we don't tell the kids about shots- they don't see anything- we call it sleepy juice-we paint a star on their teeth- if they need a tooth out- we help it see the tooth fairy.
It is the parents that fill the kid's heads with- rip your teeth out- give you a needle- all the fearful things-it's your fault you didn't brush your teeth-now you pay. There are no soft teeth- it is lack of brush, floss, and fluoride and high sugar(juice, fruit rollups, fruit snacks, cereal, panckae syrup) that makes the teeth decay. A child under 10 is NOT able to take care of their own teeth- parents should be brushing 2 times a day for them.
when we say you can't come back-there is a reason. I bet if you trusted and then asked the front desk to check for you- your child would be cooperating just nicely!

What? You aren't all a bunch of crazed, sadistic pedophiles? Say it ain't so!

 

[golfgal]

What? You aren't all a bunch of crazed, sadistic pedophiles? Say it ain't so!

 

[brenalexacamp]

Haha- then you have the parent with a 1 year old who asks-"do I go too?" uhmmm YA!

 

[minkydog]

OMG Minkeydog- I say that all the time too- Never underestimate the determination of a mother with a handicapped child. My son has Down's--although seeing my 20 yr old tonight trying to figure out how to turn the grill on-----I have some concerns! lol

Christian is 15, but at least he is clueless about appliances. However, he's happy to run out the front door and into the street any chance he gets. Oy! no wonder I have gray hair.

 

[minkydog]

I only *wish* I could drop Christian off for a private dental cleaning. Trying to clean his teeth involves two hygenists and one parent to hold him in his seat. I try to get DH to do it, since he has not problem with dental stuff. I break out in a cold sweat just seeing the instruments. Christian can be somewhat compliant, but he gets anxious and needs lots of hug breaks. He cannot tolerate the nitrous mask, so we have started giving him a 1/2 a Xanax to help him be more compliant. fortunately, our hygenists are very understanding and patient with him. They always block out 1 hour for his appointment. They rarely need that much time, but it makes for a nice relaxed appointment.

 

[themilesfamily]

Just wanted to say that if a dentist or doctor told me I couldn't be in on an exam with my very young child I would be out of that office so fast it would make your head spin.

I just think of that doc who was recently arrested for hundreds of counts of child molestation and videotaping the molestations -- his thing was always to separate the kids from their parents -- get them in an exam room alone. Also there was the 20/20 expose on pediatric dentists offices operating under the name of "Small Smiles" whose policy was to not allow the parents in the treatment room. They were found to be subjecting kids to cruel treatment, poor pain management, restraining kids with devices while they cried and kicked.

My child, under my care -- it's my decision whether to be in the room with them or not.

Scary video for those who haven't seen it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xw7dDLEiX0

 

[AnnetteF]

How did she do?

My oldest DS has had three fillings, all with novacaine. I thought the same thing you did, but I didn't say anything to him, and he did fine. We use a pediatric dentist for them, and they don't use gas atall.

She got her filling and it went great! The dentist was so gentle and patient. He explained to her that he was going to make her tooth go to sleep and first numbed her tooth with a topical gel-like substance. Then told her about the "sleepy juice" and showed her on her hand how the little pinch would feel before he actually did it. He also had the needle positioned so she didn't see it. She was unphased by the whole process of numbing her tooth. She was a little apprehensive about the drill because of the noise it made but he told her if she wanted him to stop to raise her arm and he would stop. She did that once, but I think it was just to see if he would, and he did. She was fine with the whole thing and was very pleased with the 6 stickers that they let her choose when it was all over. I was very pleased with the way the whole thing was handled and I was able to be with her the whole time. On the way out, I asked her if she would be nervous if she ever had to get another one, and she said no.

Thanks to everyone who responded and helped put my fears at ease. I felt a little better walking in there and I'm so happy I didn't decide to cancel.