Valley Girl Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Our first pediatric dentist discouraged parents from being present during exams. I politely challenged the policy and was permitted back. I would not have left small children alone. Our new dentist welcomes parents and allows us to be present at every stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I tried only one pediatric dentist and they discouraged parents from going back. I don't remember how long I stayed with them but I don't remember my kids ever having a problem. I don't know how old they were when they started going to my dentist, but it was with relief. I trust my dentist and like him a great deal. My kids like him too. Heck even now as they are young adults, I'm told how the visit went by the hygienist or techs. But my dentist would absolutely talk to me if I needed him. I didn't ever want my kids to develop a fear of dentistry and they haven't. I'd look into a family dentist that could treat the whole family. Then you have personal experience with whoever is treating your children as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Our dentist isn't a pediatric dentist. He lets us go in anytime we want. I did end up at one place prior where they didn't allow parents in the room so I cancelled the appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Our first pediatric dentist discouraged parents from being present during exams. I politely challenged the policy and was permitted back. I would not have left small children alone. Our new dentist welcomes parents and allows us to be present at every stage. I challenged that policy as well and they would not budge. So forget it. Their reasons weren't even good ones. One reason was they claimed that a parent being in the room would hinder a child from trusting the dentist. Bull crap. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 This is exactly why I never took my kids to a pediatric dentist; they have always seen the same one I do. He's never seemed to mind my going back with them, though I don't any more--it would interrupt my twice-yearly perusal of the latest People magazine. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 This is exactly why I never took my kids to a pediatric dentist; they have always seen the same one I do. My oldest daughter needed work done at 4. I took her first to our regular dentist but he didn't work on kids that young. So, we went to a more kid friendly dentist that used nitrous for a couple of years and now she goes to the regular dentist, along with my 6 and 11 yo who didn't have to have work done early. My 3yo went to an actual ped dentist because at 3 we needed a specialist and the ped dentist could do conscious sedation in office. I'll be glad when she is old enough to transfer over as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) I've seen it both ways (parent allowed back and parent prohibited from the back), with most allowing parents in the back. I walked away from the one that prohibited me from the back when my kids were really little. The kids and myself were not comfortable with that, and there were plenty of other dentists that allowed parents to come along. Just find another dentist if you are not comfortable with the policy that doesn't allowed your participation. ETA: Just so you know, your child can visit a regular dentist, so it's easy to find one that is accommodating. For a child with no pediatric-specific tooth problems, a general dentist is perfectly fine. That's where my kids eventually wound up because that's who they liked best. Edited March 31, 2016 by reefgazer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I've seen it both ways (parent allowed back and parent prohibited from the back), with most allowing parents in the back. I walked away from the one that prohibited me from the back when my kids were really little. The kids and myself were not comfortable with that, and there were plenty of other dentists that allowed parents to come along. Just find another dentist if you are not comfortable with the policy that doesn't allowed your participation. ETA: Just so you know, your child can visit a regular dentist, so it's easy to find one that is accommodating. For a child with no pediatric-specific tooth problems, a general dentist is perfectly fine. That's where my kids eventually wound up because that's who they liked best. I can't fathom when a pediatric dentist would be necessary. We've never used one for our kids and they have had issues only kids have. I was turned off by the idea of a pediatric dentist after hearing a few horror stories. Stuff like strapping them onto boards.... Oh brother. Talk about turning something basic into traumatic. I suppose it might be necessary in some instances, but I didn't want it to be assumed that these procedures should be a given with children. I like that the dentist doesn't force stuff. If my kid was not cooperative, he had us reschedule. Often times on the second visit it worked out just fine. A pediatric dentist might just strap my kid down and force the procedure. I'd rather wait than go that route immediately. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I can't fathom when a pediatric dentist would be necessary. We've never used one for our kids and they have had issues only kids have. I was turned off by the idea of a pediatric dentist after hearing a few horror stories. Stuff like strapping them onto boards.... Oh brother. Talk about turning something basic into traumatic. I suppose it might be necessary in some instances, but I didn't want it to be assumed that these procedures should be a given with children. I like that the dentist doesn't force stuff. If my kid was not cooperative, he had us reschedule. Often times on the second visit it worked out just fine. A pediatric dentist might just strap my kid down and force the procedure. I'd rather wait than go that route immediately. Umm ... a toddler with tooth decay that is causing pain and the child stops eating food. Or a child with sensory issues or other issues that a regular dentist is not equipped to deal with. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 http://www.wfsb.com/story/31607286/toddler-dies-after-dentist-visit What on earth? It doesn't say what she was in for, but she only 14 months old...so sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenbeanmama Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I can't fathom when a pediatric dentist would be necessary. We've never used one for our kids and they have had issues only kids have. I was turned off by the idea of a pediatric dentist after hearing a few horror stories. Stuff like strapping them onto boards.... Oh brother. Talk about turning something basic into traumatic. I suppose it might be necessary in some instances, but I didn't want it to be assumed that these procedures should be a given with children. I like that the dentist doesn't force stuff. If my kid was not cooperative, he had us reschedule. Often times on the second visit it worked out just fine. A pediatric dentist might just strap my kid down and force the procedure. I'd rather wait than go that route immediately. My youngest daughter's molars came in with problems. And she has horrible teeth in general (genetics -my other daughter eats and brushes the same, and has never had a cavity; my husband's teeth are awful though). Anyways, my youngest had six cavities filled and four crowns at 22 months. Our regular dentist wouldn't do it because she was so small. The pediatric dentist wanted to put her under general anesthesia because of the time and trauma factors. We didn't like the risks of general anesthesia for someone so little, and the cost was prohibitive ($4,500, instead of the $150 we paid in office). They tried first without papoosing her, but that didn't work at all. They needed to papoose her, with me holding her still, as well as one lady whose job was to hold her head still. It was horrible and awful, especially the second appointment -she recognized the building and was crying before we got in the door. When she started talking two months later, we heard about the dentist all.the.time ("wrap up tight!" "owie teeth!" "yucky teeth lady!"). But when her next check-up came around, we talked about it beforehand, and there were no tears. She didn't have to be papoosed to fill her next three cavaties either. And she calls our family dentist her "best friend" because he didn't give her "shiny teeth" like the Yucky Teeth Lady. So sometimes a pediatric dentist really is necessary. My other kiddos just go to our family dentist, but my youngest does benefit from a pediatric dentist, since her teeth are pretty much rotting in her head, poor thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I can't fathom when a pediatric dentist would be necessary. We've never used one for our kids and they have had issues only kids have. Just because your children haven't needed or wanted one doesn't mean that they are not necessary. Or that people might not choose to go to one even if it isn't "needed". One of my children has gone to one and one hasn't. The one who goes to one does not "need" it anymore but is comfortable there. I'm glad that we have multiple options for dental care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyx4 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Our pediatric dentist has an open room, 7 chairs lined up side by side where the hygenists work on the kids doing cleanings. On the outside wall is a row of chairs for parents to sit in. When I've had little kids, I've been encouraged to sit in the chair with the kids while they are cleaned. They do have private work rooms if there is special concerns/needs/fears that needs to be addressed or more in depth procedures. But it's fabulous for me since I schedule 6 chairs for the same appointment time. Dentist and I just go down the row and we discuss issues with each kid. I would be very uncomfortable with a place that wouldn't let me back with my kids. How else would they be able to show me the problems spots that my kids need to work on brushing or other issues they see arising? I don't know that we've ever been to the dentist where at least one kid didn't have to open their mouth so they could show me some issue (our biggest issues is teeth errupting in the wrong places). This is why we use a pediatric dentist. He's got enough hygienists that all my kids sit down at once. In 30 minutes all my kids are done. My dentist only has two hygienists working at a time. So that would take forever in a larger family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 We have always gone to the same pediatric dental practice. Parents are allowed and encouraged to come back with kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I can't fathom when a pediatric dentist would be necessary. We've never used one for our kids and they have had issues only kids have. I was turned off by the idea of a pediatric dentist after hearing a few horror stories. Stuff like strapping them onto boards.... Oh brother. Talk about turning something basic into traumatic. I suppose it might be necessary in some instances, but I didn't want it to be assumed that these procedures should be a given with children. I like that the dentist doesn't force stuff. If my kid was not cooperative, he had us reschedule. Often times on the second visit it worked out just fine. A pediatric dentist might just strap my kid down and force the procedure. I'd rather wait than go that route immediately. To the bolded: Because kids aren't small adults. Also, the pediatric dental practice we have attended for many years has always made the kids feel very comfortable with the process. Two of my kids have needed extensive dental work, and the pediatric practice is colorful, friendly, has a lot of toys, and has hygienists and dentists skilled at working specifically with kids. They give prizes at the end and make balloon animals. My kids have always enjoyed going. No dentist has ever forced anything on my kids. They have always been treated with compassion and kindness and respect. I would not allow my kids to be strapped down. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 BTW, I still go back with my 15 yo ds to the orthodontist appointments. I want to hear progress, see if there are problems, report anything he forgets, learn the things that he has neglected to tell me at home but tells the assistant when asked, hear the instructions for rubber bands, make the next appointment, etc. My kid, my money, my butt in the chair across from him. You betcha. :laugh: I completely trust the orthodontist and his staff. They are fabulous. I just want to know what is going on. Most parents come back with their kids, even the older teens, I assume for the same reasons I do. They have parent chairs across from the kids' orthodontic chairs. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
displace Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 I'm glad I asked this :). I looked around my local Facebook city pages and found other dentists that allow parents in the back (other people had asked the same question). Now I just need to check insurance qualifications. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted April 1, 2016 Share Posted April 1, 2016 To the bolded: Because kids aren't small adults. Also, the pediatric dental practice we have attended for many years has always made the kids feel very comfortable with the process. Two of my kids have needed extensive dental work, and the pediatric practice is colorful, friendly, has a lot of toys, and has hygienists and dentists skilled at working specifically with kids. They give prizes at the end and make balloon animals. My kids have always enjoyed going. No dentist has ever forced anything on my kids. They have always been treated with compassion and kindness and respect. I would not allow my kids to be strapped down. Agree! I love our pediatric dentist. Another benefit is that he is amazing at fixing chips in my kids permanent teeth. All 3 of mine have had significant chips due to injuries and he did a beautiful job. He repairs chips ALL the time since he only works with kids. To answer the original post, mine does not typically have parents come back unless there is an issue. When the appointment is over, a hygienist will get the parent in the lobby, bring them back and the dentist explains everything he did or needs to be done in the future. If it's just a cleaning with no issues, the parent does not come back. I am perfectly fine with this process. My kids love going, they have a toy area and video games. Never once have they complained or felt scared, even for more complicated procedures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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