I always thought taking our kids to the dentist was part of our job as parents. It's right up there with getting their vaccinations and making sure they eat a balanced diet. So let's just say the ABC News report that a number of kids have died during regular dental visits scared the ever living crud out of me.
These weren't kids whose parents had let their teeth decay so badly they had insidious infections. These weren't kids with bizarre health problems. They were just normal, everyday kids whose caring parents took them in to the dentist for normal check-ups and average cavity fillings.
You know ... parents like you and me. Only now those parents are grieving. So why shouldn't you be scared?
You can keep your kids safe and still keep their teeth clean.
The problems seems to be kids put under sedation. Turns out there are dentists all over the U.S. who like to put kids under before they will take a peek in their mouths. Only with little training in how to sedate kids, or what to do if the sedation goes wrong, things can turn tragic very quickly. The ABC News report claims this happens because they're greedy practitioners trying to milk parents out of their money.
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What scares me is why parents went along with it. The dentists apparently put up a good enough reason to convince Mom and Dad -- it will calm their kids, keep them from fearing the dentist.
Can you blame the parents for saying yes? I can't. I've been there.
Last year my daughter was nursing a wiggler on the day of our regularly scheduled check-up, and she told the dentist she wanted him to pull it out. So he got her all comfy in the chair, pulled out the pliers, and she freaked! And then he did something that reminded me why he is the dentist I have used for so many years and will keep on going to: he put the pliers away and told her to hop out of the chair. He told me she's always been a great little patient, and he didn't want to scare her.
And that, folks, is what I hope people realize about this report. Yes, shady dentists are scary. Yes, you should beware sedation and kids.
But this doesn't mean you should say "no more dentist" for your kids. You just need to go into that office knowing that it's OK to say "no" when they suggest something a little ... shall we say unconventional?
The difference between my dentist and the creepy ones? He has never once suggested she needed medication so they can work on her.
Instead he and his staff are all about trying to make her comfortable and make the experience pleasant. They explain everything to her. They take cues from her. They let her pick through the prize bin at the end (yes, my dentist bribes my kid, and I'm A-OK with that). Believe it or not, she is actually excited to go see our dentist next month so he can fill out her back-to-school dental form.
Have you let your dentist put your child under sedation? What was it like?
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Comments 22
@helpplease, he is two years old? If the cavity isn't causing your child any pain wait for it to fall out.
My son has a note on file from his Rheumatologist that he is healthy enough to be put under sedation in the event that an actual painfull procedure requires it but we have never actually had him put under. He has Autism and sensory problems and hates his face/mouth being touched, and they still work with him with his mouth open. Unless he will be in crazy pain without a certain procedure that requires full sedation it will never happen to my kids. I am way to paranoid
The dentist I chose for my daughter doesnt use gas or any other sedative measures. They sing to the child, take breaks and reassure then that they're safe. Its also up to the parents to talk to the children to help them know what to expect. The dentist is scary because you cannot see (or feel, sometimes) what they're doing. This is so sad.
This freaks me out, my son is 28 months and has a cavity right between his 2 front teeth from nursing and the dentist said if it doesn't improve they will put him under. Hearing that made me feel like I am doing something horribly wrong, it's hard enough being a young mother with out adding things like cavities in. The dentist has been putting a protective filler on the cavity and my little man has to go in every 3 months to have it reapplied but on his last trip the dentist said it is looking better and said he doesn't have to come in for 6 months, but the possibility of having to go under when he is 3 is still there. :(
In pur home town EVERY pediatric dentist strapped every kid down and wanted to sedate them. I had a huge problem with this! I'm gonna go ahead and sound old ans say I never had to be strapped down or sedated much less both and I turned out fine. LOL
IMO strapping a kid down or sedating them causes so much pshcological trouble-where in the world are all the shrinks backing me up on this?
How can restraining someone to violate their person EVER teach them coping skills?
Kids subjected to all of that are bound to have trust issues. I would too.
my child was throwing a tantrum at her last visit, so the dentist suggested i step out. i should not have done that because i found marks on her arms that lead me to believe she had been restrained. I was furious. I would have rather they sent her home. we will not be going back there