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Dental checkups and the sorry state of the SAD


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If your kids go in for regular cleanings do they get anything from the dentist?

 

I remember the very few times in my childhood (more like early teen years) when I went for a cleaning I got to pick an new toothbrush out of the treasure chest.

 

I get it that toothbrushes have probably climbed in cost to more than a quarter if one buys in bulk, but really what dd received yesterday was just weird.

 

After her cleaning she was given an certificate to McDonalds for a free order of fries. :glare: Fattening, full of salt and can cause decay because the body starts to turn that stuff into glucose as soon as it enters the mouth.

 

Is this typical nowadays?

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If your kids go in for regular cleanings do they get anything from the dentist?

 

I remember the very few times in my childhood (more like early teen years) when I went for a cleaning I got to pick an new toothbrush out of the treasure chest.

 

I get it that toothbrushes have probably climbed in cost to more than a quarter if one buys in bulk, but really what dd received yesterday was just weird.

 

After her cleaning she was given an certificate to McDonalds for a free order of fries. :glare: Fattening, full of salt and can cause decay because the body starts to turn that stuff into glucose as soon as it enters the mouth.

 

Is this typical nowadays?

Wow, really? Fries?

 

No, we went to the dentist this morning. Each kid got a "report card" for how well they are brushing, and a plastic pouch with a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and some containers of floss.

 

We go to the pediatric dentist in the hoity-toity area of town though. Maybe that's it?

 

No cavities! That's what I was happy about.

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It is common here.

 

I refuse to use a dentist that does it.

 

My dentist gives every patient at every appt a bag with toothbrush, floss, paste, and mouthwash. Kids get to choose a little cheap toy. Mini toys like slinkies, wax tablets, tops....

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Nope. Toothbrushes, small toothpastes, floss, mirrors to see the back teeth and toys from the treasure chest. For kids and adults.

 

They also have a snack basket and juice boxes for anyone who wants one. :001_smile:

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My boys get toothbrushes and a little toy from the treasure chest in the waiting room. It's usually a bouncy ball or somehing similar. McDonald's is weird. We do get movie tickets from our dentist for referrals.

But, we all get $15 for going to the dentist in my house. Even myself. I got a cute little purse from Target for my last prize. My oldest usually picks pokemon cards. My youngest usually pics bionicles or tech decks. I started this after some pretty yucky experiences in the dentist's chair. And I decided that if the boys got prizes, so did I. My mom knows my policy and last Friday after her trip to the dentist asked if I would get her a prize, too. :lol: The answer was no, but I threw her a huge birthday party with a chocolate fountain the very next day so she wasn't too disappointed! :tongue_smilie:

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It is common here.

 

I refuse to use a dentist that does it.

 

My dentist gives every patient at every appt a bag with toothbrush, floss, paste, and mouthwash. Kids get to choose a little cheap toy. Mini toys like slinkies, wax tablets, tops....

 

This was dd's second visit. I don't remember if she got anything the first time or not.

 

I just can't change dentists at this point in time. We will just deal with it. I'll make a note to put together a goody bag for her after visits.

 

I was simply wondering if it was a common occurrence.

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My boys get toothbrushes and a little toy from the treasure chest in the waiting room. It's usually a bouncy ball or somehing similar. McDonald's is weird. We do get movie tickets from our dentist for referrals.

But, we all get $15 for going to the dentist in my house. Even myself. I got a cute little purse from Target for my last prize. My oldest usually picks pokemon cards. My youngest usually pics bionicles or tech decks. I started this after some pretty yucky experiences in the dentist's chair. And I decided that if the boys got prizes, so did I. My mom knows my policy and last Friday after her trip to the dentist asked if I would get her a prize, too. :lol: The answer was no, but I threw her a huge birthday party with a chocolate fountain the very next day so she wasn't too disappointed! :tongue_smilie:

Oh, wow! I never thought of bribing myself to stay calm at a visit. Great idea. I wonder how much I should give.

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Our pediatric dentist gives out new toothbrushes, floss, and a sample toothpaste tube. The kids also pick a prize out of the treasure box.

 

However, the pediatrician we just stop going to (not for this specific reason) gave us a coupon for a personal pizza at Pizza Hut.:001_huh:

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Every time my kids hit the dentist for a cleaning, they get a bag with a toothbrush (Oral-B), toothpaste, a goodie bag toy, and the adults get a carnation. :001_smile:

That is very nice.

 

 

 

Oh, I didn't get a coupon. I was horrible today. :tongue_smilie:

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Little bag with a new toothbrush, floss, and maybe disclosing tablets. When younger, got a cheap prize too, often those funny wind-up chattering teeth.

 

Our dentist gives adults flowers on their first visit and always has a basket of fruit (two days ago it was apples and plums), and offers coffee, water, and juice to whomever is waiting for a kid to finish their exam, etc. It usually is 100% Welch's fruit juice but I am wondering if the buyer who stopped by Sams or Costco grabbed the wrong thing because it was corn syrupy Welch's "punch" or "cocktail" drinks last time -- in nearly the same bottle. I will assume that's an oops. Not that 100% juice is healthy for teeth, but it's a nice little gesture.

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Oh, wow! I never thought of bribing myself to stay calm at a visit. Great idea. I wonder how much I should give.

 

Bribery is a good thing. :001_smile: Each time dd has a "no-cavity" visit to the dentist (all of them so far,) she gets $5. When she turned ten, she said "Now that I have hit double digits, I think my reward should, too." :D Smart kid. But it didn't work.:tongue_smilie:

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We go to the fancy pediatric dentist office and every time the kids have no cavities, they get a coupon for a free DQ Blizzard. :glare::blink::eek::ack2::confused1:

 

I always confiscate them for bribery. I think it's disgusting to reward good dental hygiene with junk food. I have about 9 of those coupons in my purse from the last two years.

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If your kids go in for regular cleanings do they get anything from the dentist?

 

After her cleaning she was given an certificate to McDonalds for a free order of fries. :glare: Fattening, full of salt and can cause decay because the body starts to turn that stuff into glucose as soon as it enters the mouth.

 

Is this typical nowadays?

 

I thought that only happened in our city!

 

We had a local dental clinic offer free cleanings and sealants at the public school by us. Upon completion of the cleaning/sealing, the child would receive a very cheap toothbrush and three $1 gift certificates from McDonalds "to get a cheeseburger, fries, and drink." Hmmm. Not that I frequent McDonalds often, but I'm pretty sure the $1 drinks do not include milk. Basically, that dentist was encouraging kids to get a soda. :banghead:

 

Our dc's regular dentist gives a nice toothbrush, a sample size toothpaste and floss, and a small junky toy. No McD's included, thank goodness.

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We all get Oral B toothbrushes, and whatever floss/picks/flossers and toothpaste our mouths call for. I had my granddaughter tagging along just to watch one day, and she was given all the same stuff. Love my thoughtful dentist's office.

 

Jealous of the carnation recipient upthread. Puzzled by the treat coupons.

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Our dentist gives out toothbrushes and floss. I've always thought it random, though, that in the lobby you are offered freshly baked cookies and a frozen yogurt machine.
Same with our dentist. We get a goodie bag with toothbrush, floss and paste. Then we are offered a warm chocolate chip cookie on the way out. :tongue_smilie:

I would complain but -

1.) we are friends with our dentist and go to him because he has been so nice to DS. (DS's baby teeth came in without enamel due to prematurity, which led to extensive dental work.)

2.) DS thinks it is crazy that they offer cookies after a cleaning and always turns up his nose at the receptionist when she tries to talk him into having one. :lol:

 

They also have frozen ice cream treats, if you have more than just a routine cleaning.

 

BTW, we used to see a pediatric dentist for DS but left to go to our friend's practice, as pediatric dentist ended up crazy. But pediatric dentist was always telling me that it was better on the teeth to give kids oreos than fruit. :001_huh:

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We go to the fancy pediatric dentist office and every time the kids have no cavities, they get a coupon for a free DQ Blizzard. :glare::blink::eek::ack2::confused1:

 

I always confiscate them for bribery. I think it's disgusting to reward good dental hygiene with junk food. I have about 9 of those coupons in my purse from the last two years.

At least we aren't alone. :D

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Our dentist gives a little bag with a toothbrush and a container of floss. They also get a token that goes in one of the little machines. The kids pick between little plastic alien thingies, bouncy balls, temp tattoos, sticky hand...that sort of thing.

 

Our dentist also does candy buy-back after halloween. They pay a $1 a pound and then send it to to the troops over seas.

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Well in Australia we get -NOTHING.

 

Stuff is expensive here -they are not going to give it out for free.

 

I want to come to your dentists - I think if I spend over a thousand dollars at the dentist like I did a few months ago I should at least get a free toothbrush :glare: Especially since the dentist anethatised the wrong tooth and didn't stop when I complained it hurt :001_huh:

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My kids get a toothbrush, toothpaste, sometimes floss. The dentist makes the kids a balloon animal/sword. They also have some bins that they can choose things out of like stickers, paper airplane, top, cheap toys. I could do without the cheap toys, but the kids love it and there is never any food involved.

Joy

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My dentist gives every patient at every appt a bag with toothbrush, floss, paste, and mouthwash. Kids get to choose a little cheap toy. Mini toys like slinkies, wax tablets, tops....

 

This is what our dentist does as well. He's a regular dentist, not a pediatric specialist.

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Fries?!? Yikes! (I have no problem with the occasional fries, but I'm not pretending they're healthy; they're an occasional junk food treat, and I'm okay with that. But from the dentist???)

 

Our dental office (pediatric-only office) gives each child a goodie bag -- it has floss, toothpaste, a toothbrush cover, and a new toothbrush (nice ones, characters for the little kids and nice Oral B or something for the older ones). Each kid also gets to pick two stickers. I am completely happy with that arrangement -- they get a little something fun, and I don't have to deal with junky toys or junky food.

 

Otoh, I like our doctor's deal even better -- they don't give anything out, not even stickers. She's a family doc, though, rather than a pediatrician, which I like, but there's a lot less of the "make it fun" general attitude there than the dentist's office has.

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Oh, wow! I never thought of bribing myself to stay calm at a visit. Great idea. I wonder how much I should give.

 

$20 is a nice round number, Chucki. And, yes, I do think about what I'm going to get for my prize during the entire visit. And when I had to have a root canal last year, the prize was doubled. Same with the freak abcess my little man got last month. It's worth every penny!

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