Children's Dentists

[MDown]

Just wondering if anybody out there can assist:

So my 5 year old daughter went to the dentist today... it was her 3rd or 4th time in her life. This time however she's told that she needs fillings. So, they go over the process, tell my wife that she give her Benadryl before coming in for them, and there is no crying. Needless to say my daughter had a meltdown, which led to my wife having a similar meltdown when she got home. My daughter was so uncomfortable during the xray process (the office is state of the art and uses all digital photography so they have this big chunk of plastic vs. the old foldable "cardboard" kind) that they couldn't get the bottoms done. My wife feels that while the assistants and hygenists are great the dentist is little "intense" at times. He also told my wife today that his opinion "trumps" the medical field in terms of my daughter needing her tonsils out?????

So, anyway I guess we're going to hunt for new dentist. I am afraid that all children might be afraid of the dentist due to the fact that it is not a fun expereince. Anybody have any luck with dentists for their keets?? Anything we should look for, ask, or do?

A friend of mine thought a female dentist might help. My wife and I are not posterchildren for oral care. However we would like our children to not fear the dentist, and learn about taking care of their teeth.

[Dezdmona]

Sorry to hear that your child had a negative experience. It doesn't need to be that way.
We LOVE our son's dentist.

Be sure you choose a pediatric dentist. i.e., a dentist who specializes in children.
Do NOT send your child to a dentist that works primarily with adults.

[PetalMel]

I love our dentist as well---he totally understands kids and makes the first few visits only an introduction/how to brush your teeth thing. He will do xrays but doesn't go over the deep end at all. When my daughter hit her front tooth on our deck, he looked at it and said that it may come out or may not, but we'll just see what happens. He is all about minimal treatment other than preventative stuff which is great. We haven't had to deal with fillings yet, so I can't comment on that.


Too bad you didn't live near us in Michigan otherwise I'd totally encourage you to check him out. I agree with you that you don't want your kids to be all freaked out with the dentist. I'd check around to get a second opinion and see if you can find a dentist who specializes in children. Best of luck---nothing worse than kids in peril (except a wife right there with them......)

[buffettbride]

My daughter experienced a bit of tooth decay/soft teeth as a result of Celiac disease. She was capped to the max in 1st grade. I was a tooth-brushing Nazi so it always baffled me that she had such a hard time.

We used a family dentist, but she never really gave any indication that she was fearful, and I was always allowed to sit in the room as long as I wasn't interfering--I was simply present.

We always went to DQ afterward. I'm a horrible mom and sometimes use bribes to get my kids to do the tough stuff.

[pbans]

My daughter's baby teeth were horrible....she had her first cap at around age three....we went to a pediatric dentist at the suggestion of our regular dentist. He just didn't have instruments small enough to work in her mouth. The ped dentist we found was WONDERFUL....and consequently, she really has no fear of the dentist at all. She almost cried when, at 14, the pediatric dentist told her she was actually old enough to go to the 'regular' dentist.

It was the perfect choice for us....smaller chairs, smaller instruments, just a more kid friendly environment.

[Salukulady]

I can beat all of you. My 17 year old had 8 root canals at the age of 8. Yes, we had been to the dentist before. She basically has very little enamel on her teeth. Talk about feeling like a terrible mother.
We went to a childs dentist also. They just about knocked her out completely and did them all at once. She lived through it.

My girlfriend took her children to a laser dentist. Totally pain free. But very expensive and not covered by my insurance.