I could write out a long and detailed account of my two experiences that were less than satisfactory, but I won't. If someone wants details, I'll be more than happy to give them a play by play.\r
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My child does not yell or scream during a tooth cleaning. She does not fight them or kick her legs or wave her arms. She does not like to lay there on the chair, with someone poking in her mouth. She was one month shy of her 4th bday. She shed a few tears (tears, not crying, but tears) and had to be asked to ""open wider"" several times.\r
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The bottom line is that I didn't feel my child needed to be sedated, and rather than just easily ""accept"" my child being drugged, I questioned the decision. As a parent I wanted to be absolutely certain it was necessary. The reaction to my questions had me feeling as if I were a bad parent for questioning the sedation, b/c of how much worse it could get if untreated. The procedure was never in question, it was the sedation. When I stated how his response made me feel, he became instantly defensive.\r
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I relented, and sent my husband to the dentist with my child.\r
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When my child needed a second filling, I was told the same thing again. Of course, I relented, again.\r
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I went into the room with my child after the sedation took effect. I sat in the corner and was quiet. My child had the same reaction as before, shed a few tears. This was when the dental assistant was getting her ready. The dental assistant says to my 4 yr old. ""Why are you crying? I'm not even doing anything to you. You have no reason to be upset."" It infuriated me the way she ""discounted"" my childs feelings. Well, of course she has a reason to be upset. It's a scary situation for a 4yr old. So she has every right to feel the way she feels. She could have said, ""I understand that you are upset, however, there is nothing to be afraid of...""\r
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You would think a pediatric dentist's office would know this.\r
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Then when she asked her a question, and my child did not answer right away she said. ""You should answer when someone is talking to you. It's rude when you don't.""\r
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Ok, I understand that children should learn to respond when they are spoken to. However, it is not her place to speak to someones child, especially a 4yr old, in that manner.\r
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I am not a person who generally sits back and allows something like this to happen. However, we had been at the dentists office for over an hour, my child did not want to be there, and I did not want to have to repeat the procedure (sedation) again. \r
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It took all my strength as a parent to stay in the chair with my mouth closed. \r
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I have been dreading my children's next cleaning...and after seeing that someone else has the experience, perhaps I will cancel their appointment.\r
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Pros: Nice *shiny* new office
Cons: Impatient and unfriendly
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