Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Your experience is not uncommon I'm afraid, except for the comment about ADHD which I think is very atypical given all the information available about ADHD. There are other ways to deal with the situation. If you email me directly at FamCan@... and tell me where you live, perhaps I can refer you to another pediatric dentist. Sorry about your negative experience. It does not reflect well on the profession. S. Cantor, DDS Specialist Pediatric Dentistry Director, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago Special Needs Dental Program ixacta <ixacta@...> wrote: I took my (almost 5yo aspie) son to a special " kids " dentist today for the first time. He was referred by our family dentist, who's done two yearly exams/cleaning for my son. She referred him to a kids dentist to fill a cavity he had. I was appalled by some things I discovered at our first " get acquainted " appointment, and having no experience with kids dentistry, I wanted to ask any of you if this is normal. Taking away the sugar coating, the dentist and his staff basically told me: (1) my son would be wearing a straightjacket (papoose board like they use for circumsizing babies in the hospital) during the procedure, (2) he would be drugged so he wouldn't make a fuss, and (3) I was welcome to sit beside him but if he was bad and made a fuss that I couldn't calm down, I would have to leave the room. Apparently this often terrifies the kids into submission. Now, I hesitate to ask any of my real world friends if this is normal for a dentist to require, because they may feel offended if they consider this reasonable and see that I'm horrified by it. I'm seriously considering just letting the cavity sit there until the tooth falls out on it's own (it's a baby tooth after all). I know dentist say that if you let the baby teeth decay, it can affect the permanent teeth underneath it. Can this really be true? That is, true enough to make any difference in real life? To top it off, this dentist for some reason started ranting and raving at me that the schools and pediatricians had invented ADHD and that it was a bogus diagnosis. Hmmmph. ======================================================= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 In a message dated 2/2/04 11:46:30 PM, ixacta@... writes: << Taking away the sugar coating, the dentist and his staff basically told me: (1) my son would be wearing a straightjacket (papoose board like they use for circumsizing babies in the hospital) during the procedure, (2) he would be drugged so he wouldn't make a fuss, and (3) I was welcome to sit beside him but if he was bad and made a fuss that I couldn't calm down, I would have to leave the room. Apparently this often terrifies the kids into submission. >> Yes, I just went through this with my NT 3 yo. I was given the choice of straitjacket, mild sedation, or general. I went with the mild sedation -- but I won't do *that again. Dh and I were both in the waiting room for an hour with her while the med took effect. I thought she'd get droopy and fall asleep -- not! She careened around, agitated, drunk, while dh and I tried to keep her from falling and hurting herself. It was ugly. She did sleep during the procedure (4 cavities) but did not sleep the rest of the day like the dentist said she would. I had to stay right beside her the rest of the day because she was unsteady on her feet and very cranky and fussy. The whole office gave me the creeps, anyway. They told me not to tell the child anything or use any words like " shot " etc. Anyway, won't be going back there. I've cut out candy and juice and hope that will be enough. Nell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 > I took my (almost 5yo aspie) son to a special " kids " dentist today > for the first time. He was referred by our family dentist, who's done > two yearly exams/cleaning for my son. She referred him to a kids > dentist to fill a cavity he had. > > I was appalled by some things I discovered at our first " get > acquainted " appointment, and having no experience with kids > dentistry, I wanted to ask any of you if this is normal. Taking away > the sugar coating, the dentist and his staff basically told me: (1) > my son would be wearing a straightjacket (papoose board like they use > for circumsizing babies in the hospital) during the procedure, (2) he > would be drugged so he wouldn't make a fuss, and (3) I was welcome to > sit beside him but if he was bad and made a fuss that I couldn't calm > down, I would have to leave the room. Apparently this often terrifies > the kids into submission. > > Now, I hesitate to ask any of my real world friends if this is normal > for a dentist to require, because they may feel offended if they > consider this reasonable and see that I'm horrified by it. > > I'm seriously considering just letting the cavity sit there until the > tooth falls out on it's own (it's a baby tooth after all). I know > dentist say that if you let the baby teeth decay, it can affect the > permanent teeth underneath it. Can this really be true? That is, true > enough to make any difference in real life? > > To top it off, this dentist for some reason started ranting and > raving at me that the schools and pediatricians had invented ADHD and > that it was a bogus diagnosis. Hmmmph. Run away from that office and never go back! OMG I've never taken my kids to a ped. dentist. They've gone to two different dentist and neither employ those drastic (IMO) messures. The first dentist did prefer parents wait in the waiting room but I was comfortable with it and so were my kids. The second dentist who removed my sons mercury fillings had my son watch cartoons with headphones on while he worked on him. No reason to make a minor filling a major trama! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 My son won't tolerate dental work. We tried the papoose and he wiggled out of it. Luckily our insurance covered general anesthesia during dental work for special needs patients. I was cautious but he is 8yo and never even had a cleaning. He had a molar that wouldn't fall out and was blocking another from coming in. They pulled that one and 2 other baby teeth . He had x-rays and a cleaning. Even with anesthesia the pre and post op were not smooth. He just can't tolerate it. He didn't have any cavities but if he had one in a baby tooth the plan was to just leave it. He is on the SCD diet and eats goat yogurt and goat cheese. This can help with re-enameling and mineralizing the teeth. Much better than cow yogurt and cheese. Most dentist's are very invested in believing things that are obviously untrue. So they are a bit nutty imo. Also they have been exposed to a lot of mercury fumes. Doesn't help them think any clearer. I have been around the block with the dictator type health professionals and I am no longer intimidated by them. Just dig your heals in and say " that won't work for my family " and " what are the alternatives? " The way to hell is paved with good intensions. These folks need to beleive that they are doing the right thing. Every time I read of dentist having clinics and filling toddlers mouths full of mercury I cringe. Good luck and if your child is not in pain there is no need to rush into any dental treatment even cleaning. Maddie > I took my (almost 5yo aspie) son to a special " kids " dentist today > for the first time. He was referred by our family dentist, who's done > two yearly exams/cleaning for my son. She referred him to a kids > dentist to fill a cavity he had. > > I was appalled by some things I discovered at our first " get > acquainted " appointment, and having no experience with kids > dentistry, I wanted to ask any of you if this is normal. Taking away > the sugar coating, the dentist and his staff basically told me: (1) > my son would be wearing a straightjacket (papoose board like they use > for circumsizing babies in the hospital) during the procedure, (2) he > would be drugged so he wouldn't make a fuss, and (3) I was welcome to > sit beside him but if he was bad and made a fuss that I couldn't calm > down, I would have to leave the room. Apparently this often terrifies > the kids into submission. > > Now, I hesitate to ask any of my real world friends if this is normal > for a dentist to require, because they may feel offended if they > consider this reasonable and see that I'm horrified by it. > > I'm seriously considering just letting the cavity sit there until the > tooth falls out on it's own (it's a baby tooth after all). I know > dentist say that if you let the baby teeth decay, it can affect the > permanent teeth underneath it. Can this really be true? That is, true > enough to make any difference in real life? > > To top it off, this dentist for some reason started ranting and > raving at me that the schools and pediatricians had invented ADHD and > that it was a bogus diagnosis. Hmmmph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 I've experienced two " kids dentists " with my kids and both were horrible. They rushed both children. My daughter who was the world's best dental patient at the adult dentist I had taken her to was in tears. My son was held down and I was asked to leave the room. I regret having done this and never will again. I'm trying a different dentist for my son and taking my daughter back to the adult dentist. Keep looking, your children need to be comfortable. Kathy > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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