Hey medical professionals!

[Timjoebillybob]

Most parents give anxiety to their kids at the dentist and do NOT make their kids easier to do procedures on. Sign should say "I'm a professional, you make your kid worse, wait outside"

How do you know that most parents give anxiety to their kids at the dentist? Also if the parent is giving anxiety to the kid, it is probably happening long before they sit in the chair.

You guys don't get it. Try doing dental work on kids with parents present. The parents make it much, much more difficult. The best thing for the majority of kiddos is to not have parents there.

How does me sitting in the corner, not saying a word unless spoken to make it much, much more difficult? I act like it is no big deal, because it isn't one. And children at least in my experience take cues from parents behavior. I'm usually reading a book/magazine/etc.

It's not "my solution", I'm just an observer here. I always allow parents to be present when I do procedures on their kids, but a few times we kick them out if they are nuts and making their kid nuts.

Does anyone take their kids to a pediatric dentist who parents to be chairside?

Why shouldn't dentists take the same route? Allow parents unless that specific parent is a problem. And I don't know if my children's dentists were/are "pediatric dentists" or not, but I've always been allowed in during exams and such.

I do (did, see below). Our pediatric dentist is great and shows me areas where attention is needed when I am there with them. And my presence was critical for keeping the boys calm during their first visits. We've been going for several years now and I no longer go back with them unless the boys ask for me to. They rarely do. I haven't accompanied them the last 2 or 3 times they've gone back. But if they wanted me to, I would. And if I were denied that right, I would leave immediately.

Why was your presence critical for keeping your boys calm? For my kids my presence wasn't critical because I made sure they were calm beforehand. I was there just in case there was a problem, not because I thought it was needed. And also to check out the dentists(and doctors for that matter) chair/bedside manner. Also in case the dentist had any questions or comments during the exam.

 

[SkullDaddy.45]

Don't mind me, I just love watching really smart people aurgue!! Carry on, I'll just be watching. . . On the short bus. . . Wearing my cool helmet. . . Licking the windows.

 

[Dead Duck]

They taste like Cotton Candy....don't they??

 

[Kurr]

We took one of our twins in for a dental cleaning/check up at a dentist in Madison for a procedure that had that policy of "parents stay in the waiting room". We we told it was because it was better for the kids. It was our first time there. The fish tank in the waiting room was in bad need of a cleaning, lighting wasn't what you would expect, but it was an old building / historical type house, typical for the area. Madison has MANY businesses in historical buildings and or renovated houses, so weren't too concerned.


They were about 3, and they both came out very upset. A short time later our girl was taken to a ear specialist for an earache that happened to use a dental type chair in his exam room, and she was fine all the way till he pulled the curtain back going in and she saw that chair. Then all holy hell broke loose. She FREAKED OUT. Absolute terror. We figured something went on back there with her that we were not witness to that the chair brought up an association with. We were told that sometimes dental visits can cause earache from the jaws being open for en extended period.

Right after that visit, she developed a severe sore throat ( this was within days of the dental visit if I recall correctly) and we took her to the pediatrician. She was diagnosed with MRSA on her tonsils, and had to go to Cosairs to have them out and we ended up with like a 10 day hospital stay over complications. Good news was that after subsequent testing they got it all and she has been cleared so if/when she has to go to the hospital again she does not have to be placed in quarantine.

We couldn't prove anything one way or the other because we were not there. All we could do was vote with our feet/dollars. We now go to a dentist in Clarksville that has a huge playroom for the kids waiting, video games in the bays while the child / sibling waits for the procedure to start, a huge open room with 9-12 chairs in it all together so kids can see other children handling it well, and if the child does not like the large open room they have normal 1 chair exam bays available as well. They not only do not mind but prefer the parents to be present both for the child and real time discussion, explanations, and demonstration purposes.

I'll never take mine to another that tries to exclude us from any procedure.

 

[SkullDaddy.45]

They taste like Cotton Candy....don't they??

Yes, yes! But with my helmet on its hard for my tongue to reach the window!!

 

[Timjoebillybob]

They taste like Cotton Candy....don't they??

I always thought they tasted like Snozzberries....

 

[Cameramonkey]

Why was your presence critical for keeping your boys calm? For my kids my presence wasn't critical because I made sure they were calm beforehand. I was there just in case there was a problem, not because I thought it was needed. And also to check out the dentists(and doctors for that matter) chair/bedside manner. Also in case the dentist had any questions or comments during the exam.

Like my daughter for instance. She has some attachment issues right now. Her going back with a stranger (even the nice dentist she has known all her life and likes) without one of us would be a nightmare for the provider.

 

[sj kahr k40]

My daughter's dentist has one big room with a bench for parents, if the kids want the parents can sit in a stool right by the chair, when she was younger they would sit her on their laps and lay her back onto my lap to do the cleanings, never saw a child there freaked out

 

[Classic]

We took our youngest to a Pediatric Dentist exactly once. First it was the no parents in the room, then the little drink to "relax" her and (we didn't find this out until later) then they bundled her so she couldn't move. She was scared out of her head and Mom and Dad angry. It was a horrible experience for her first visit which we have been successful in turning around. Next visit she went to our "adult" dentist who is kindly and gentle anyway and welcomes either or both parents to come in a chat while he or the hygienist do their work. Any health care outfit that displays and has a policy where no parents are allowed will be getting a quick view of our backsides as we exit the facility.

 

[SkullDaddy.45]

I thought they had stuff to knock your child out! Problem solved. And send some home with the parents.

 

[Dockem]

Gawd, I love dental stories! Everyone has good ones and then horror stories (that would make Sammy Terry proud).

There's no such thing as a perfect dentist and no such thing as a perfect patient, though there is usually a majority that come close most of the time.

If I saw a sign like the OP saw, I'd walk, as I think it is a BS excuse for not allowing parents back and stretching the truth - quite a bit. The majority of parents and children do fine with the parents in the room. That being said, there are some parents that are insensitive and crass and shouldn't go back with the child. There are some children that will play it up (Oscar nomination material) when the parent is in the room. Each situation is different and has to be evaluated.

I think it's okay for a parent to go back if it is necessary for the child's sense of security, but the parent should also try to wean the child off of the security blanket for their own self esteem.

 

[eldirector]

Huh... Our dentist invited me to sit in the little "cube" with my kiddo. So, I'm guessing there is no federal rule against it.

At some point, I won't NEED to be nearby. But for now, well, is is 4 years old. I'm gonna hover a bit.

 

[ticktwrter]

I'd fire you immediately. Instead of kicking the parents out, why doesn't the medical professional help the parent help the child.

I understand Hoosierdoc's concerns, but sorry, parental concern is first in this case. I agree with 88, I'd fire you in a heart beat