I've always thought that my dentist pushed the needle in a little bit extra, just for my discomfort, as if to say "you have a cavity, you will pay". I shrugged it off. A few weeks ago I decided I might start looking for another dentist. There's just something about the guy I didn't like and I couldn't put my finger on it.
Well, today...dawn over marblehead. He's not my dentist anymore and I am actually thinking about reporting him to the state board of dental examiners.
My son, who is 6 needed to go to the dentist today to get a cavity filled. First of all, this was his first cavity and he was scared to death. He was all upset and was afraid. He was crying really hard. Ya know what this dentist did to my son? He made him feel better by saying, "if you don't let me do it, I will have to send you to Dr. ****** who will tie you down in a chair and not let your mommy in the room with you. He won't put up with this crap". And he went on to say things like, "It's your own fault. You did this to yourself by eating candy, now you have to get your teeth fixed". By now my son was screaming. The dentist took off his gloves and mask and said, "forget it".
So, the first thing that I did was call this other dentist, who is a specialist in pediatric dentistry. He can relate to children and makes going to the dentist a pleasant experience. I told them that I was referred to him by Dr. ********, but before I made an appointment I'd like to clear up a few things. I asked if they tie children up in the chair (restrain) them if they can't cooperate very well. They said that Dr. ******** will be hearing from them because it was a blatant lie! So not only was my dentist making my son more scared, but he was defaming this other dentist in front of me and my son and everyone else that was there! He was using a lie to keep my son in HIS chair. Obviously Dr. ******** doesn't want to send his clients to someone else and was a bit tiffed. Secondly, not only was that a lie, but the reason Mom's and Dad's are generally (not always, each case is different) not allowed in the room is because there are 3 chairs and the dentist and hygenist are always working together and there is not enough room to keep the parents of all 3 kids around. There'd be no place to work. They do not and have not EVER restrained a child. They've used a mild sedative or a few breaths of the laughing gas, because face it...cavities need to be filled whether one likes it or not. Not only do they not restrain kids and keep them from their mommies, but they have cartoons on the wall in front of the chairs and the children are allowed to play with toys while the dentist is working on their teeth.
I wrote a letter to my dentist stating that we are not patients of his anymore. So not only are they going to hear from me, they are going to hear from this other dentist who is completely ****ed off.
I am so angry I feel like reporting him to our state's board. Nobody who treats children like this by using mental abuse and making up lies to better his own practice should be allowed to practice any kind of medicine at all.
Just wanted to get your thoughts on what I should do. I haven't sent the letter yet, nor have I reported him.
[ 10-28-2002, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Tprspouse ]
Well, today...dawn over marblehead. He's not my dentist anymore and I am actually thinking about reporting him to the state board of dental examiners.
My son, who is 6 needed to go to the dentist today to get a cavity filled. First of all, this was his first cavity and he was scared to death. He was all upset and was afraid. He was crying really hard. Ya know what this dentist did to my son? He made him feel better by saying, "if you don't let me do it, I will have to send you to Dr. ****** who will tie you down in a chair and not let your mommy in the room with you. He won't put up with this crap". And he went on to say things like, "It's your own fault. You did this to yourself by eating candy, now you have to get your teeth fixed". By now my son was screaming. The dentist took off his gloves and mask and said, "forget it".
So, the first thing that I did was call this other dentist, who is a specialist in pediatric dentistry. He can relate to children and makes going to the dentist a pleasant experience. I told them that I was referred to him by Dr. ********, but before I made an appointment I'd like to clear up a few things. I asked if they tie children up in the chair (restrain) them if they can't cooperate very well. They said that Dr. ******** will be hearing from them because it was a blatant lie! So not only was my dentist making my son more scared, but he was defaming this other dentist in front of me and my son and everyone else that was there! He was using a lie to keep my son in HIS chair. Obviously Dr. ******** doesn't want to send his clients to someone else and was a bit tiffed. Secondly, not only was that a lie, but the reason Mom's and Dad's are generally (not always, each case is different) not allowed in the room is because there are 3 chairs and the dentist and hygenist are always working together and there is not enough room to keep the parents of all 3 kids around. There'd be no place to work. They do not and have not EVER restrained a child. They've used a mild sedative or a few breaths of the laughing gas, because face it...cavities need to be filled whether one likes it or not. Not only do they not restrain kids and keep them from their mommies, but they have cartoons on the wall in front of the chairs and the children are allowed to play with toys while the dentist is working on their teeth.
I wrote a letter to my dentist stating that we are not patients of his anymore. So not only are they going to hear from me, they are going to hear from this other dentist who is completely ****ed off.
I am so angry I feel like reporting him to our state's board. Nobody who treats children like this by using mental abuse and making up lies to better his own practice should be allowed to practice any kind of medicine at all.
Just wanted to get your thoughts on what I should do. I haven't sent the letter yet, nor have I reported him.
[ 10-28-2002, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: Tprspouse ]
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