OT Rant! Totally ticked at pediatric dentist's office!

[jodifla]

So months ago I made an appointment for DS at his dentist during a school holiday. I've been talking it up for days now (DS is a bit frightened of the dentist experience) and trying to get DS excited about it.

So this morning, they call me with all this attitude, say they have been trying to get me for WEEKS, and that I have to reschedule for NEXT YEAR. (OK, another month away after all the holidays, and in the middle of a school day, so I' have to pull him out of school.)

No one has called us about rescheduling. I rechecked my voice mails on all the phones and double-checked with my husband.

This is a big practice, and the schedulers act as if giving you an appointment is a big favor. And now, it's too far in advance to try to keep my son up about this appointment...he'll just get nervous 30 days a way.


UGh!

 

[labdogs42]

That stinks. I ended up switching my DS from the ped dentist to our regular dentist after going to the ped dentist once. I hated it there. They seemed to have the same attitude as your office. Now that DS goes to our dentisit, things are much better. If your son likes Dora, there is a great book called "Show me your smile" which chronicles Dora's visit to the dentist. My son loves it and I read it to him for a week before we go to the dentist and I take the book with us to the office to read while we're there. It works wonders.

 

[jodifla]

That stinks. I ended up switching my DS from the ped dentist to our regular dentist after going to the ped dentist once. I hated it there. They seemed to have the same attitude as your office. Now that DS goes to our dentisit, things are much better. If your son likes Dora, there is a great book called "Show me your smile" which chronicles Dora's visit to the dentist. My son loves it and I read it to him for a week before we go to the dentist and I take the book with us to the office to read while we're there. It works wonders.

You know, we do have that book! It is great and really does help. Thank you for reminding me about it. I've had mixed experiences with this office....I called back and they gave me an appointment with one of the associates (an option they didn't even mention the first time.)

I just don't get the schedulers acting like they are doing you a FAVOR for giving you an appointment. They hygienists and most of the doctors seem very helpful.

Still, I'm going to start looking around.

 

[ZPT1022]

We take the kids to a regular dentist. It works out well since they don't see too many kids in the office so they make a huge fuss when the kids come in. Our dentist is awesome- he gives my kids Gund teddy bears and all sorts of dental gadgets- flossers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc... he takes his time and is really patient with them, showing them how stuff works, telling them all about what he's doing. He's really great with them. I was kind of nervous about not taking them to the pediatric dentist but it was going to take FOREVER to get an appointment there and they just seemed too busy. If you have a dentist you like, I would consider taking him there instead, just call ahead and explain that he's really nervous (out of his earshot of course)

 

[cmaee]

Just a tidbit of advise when you do take your child to the dentist....let him where his sunglasses. When I took my oldest child to his first dentist appt. he complained about how the light hurt his eyes, so I pulled out my sunglasses and put them on him and he was fine. My kids now will wear their own "cool" sunglasses and all of the hygenists and the dentist makes a big deal about how cool their batman and spiderman sunglasses are. It makes the boys feel good and they don't mind laying back with the light shining in their faces. We go to a regular dentist and the hygentist took the time to show them everything and turn them on so they could hear them first and that helped them not be so nervous about all of the noises that they make.

 

[Kae]

I know what you mean , a few years ago DS need a filling in his front tooth so I call the Ped Dentist in town, My regular dentist looked at DS & told me to call this guy since DS was so young. Well at first I was told to call back the first of the month, so i did, sorry not accepting new people at this time ok you could have told me this when i called 4 days before then I explianed what my denist told me she kinda laughed & said well its not like the DR would do it in once appt had to have first visit & then maybe second once 6 weeks later. So I called my dentist back he was floored, so he gave me the number for another dr he was so great. And I still hear stories about moms waiting forever to get into this other dentist.

Kae

 

[lady9]

I have never understood telling a child about something which you know they don't like well in advance. Why have them worry about something? I told my 5 year old DD she was getting 2 shots at her kindergarten check up about 5 seconds before the nurse came in to do it. She cried a little but it was over fast and she got over it quickly. I understand some kids need to be prepared so they know what will be happening to them such as in the case of going to the dentist but really, it could be done the night before the appointment or the morning of.

 

[carj]

I LOVE our pediatric dentist. I wish I could go there! They have been amazing about getting us in right away when we need to and scheduling when we are out of school. (My pediatrician is another story!)

 

[Zoesmama03]

WOW! Doubt they tried. Its really crummy how they schedule out that far. Mine schedules you looks in their mouth and xrays then you gotta come back.

 

[pooh4evr]

Lady9 ITA! why worry them for weeks ahead of time and let them get all worked up about it.

 

[bear_mom]

I have never understood telling a child about something which you know they don't like well in advance. Why have them worry about something? I told my 5 year old DD she was getting 2 shots at her kindergarten check up about 5 seconds before the nurse came in to do it. She cried a little but it was over fast and she got over it quickly.

I tell my dd because she needs a chance to prepare and ask questions before hand (you wouldn't believe the nubmer of quesitons she can come up with). If I told her she was getting a shot right before the nurse came in and did it, she would throw a huge fit and then she would be scared to go to the doctor the next time because she might be getting a shot again.

Last year I waited until about an hour before her flu shot appt. to tell her, what a mistake. She threw the biggest tantrum - screaming, crying, wouldn't let us pull down her tights, kicking (I was soooo embarrased). This year, gave her 24 hours notice and she was fine.

Emily

 

[puffkin]

I love our Ped dentist too and I want to go there. Helps that she is a big Disney freak! I actually use the one that was on Jon and Kate +8 (she was partners with Jon's dad).

When we first started going there it did take a long time to get our first appointment (which is understandable) but now that we are in the system I have had no problems scheduling.

If you are unhappy with the scheduling maybe it is time to find a different ped dentist or regular dentist? You can also ask about getting on the list to call with cancellations?