Normal for dentist to separate kids from parents?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if it’s normal or not, but it would be a big “hell no” for me. My kid has had an extraction, a crown, etc… several things with nitrous oxide. It was never even suggested that I would be anywhere but in the room with her. Go elsewhere, & don’t be afraid to tell them why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely find a new dentist.

You ABSOLUTELY fire any doctor who wants your child while you go away!!!!! AND you name them HERE. Why is this even a question?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was young, a dentist said my mom could not come (to an evening apt). She got a bad feeling and cancelled. A year later, he was arrested for molesting patients.

I would never allow this, especially under anesthesia.

This.
I had a lot of dental work as a child, and the “well regarded” pediatric dentist did much of it without nitrous or ensuring I was numb and wouldn’t allow my parents in the room. He had a dental assistant, but I remember her leaving the room frequently. I saw that guy throughout childhood. My parents always brushed it off when I complained about the painful procedures because they thought I was exaggerating. To this day, I have tons of anxiety around dental visits, even though I have a great dentist now.
Turns out that my pediatric dentist served jail time for multiple offenses, to include assault. My mother apologized to me when she found out about his conviction. My young children will never be without a parent present for dental treatments. I have a firm line on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. For reference, I also wanted to add that this dentist is very highly rated and always on the Washingtonian top docs list, etc. That's why I'm so curious if this is the norm....?

Is this a male dentist in the Friendship Heights Chevy Chase area. we experienced a similar policy - no parents in the treatment area, not even for a cleaning. Dd was anxious about getting a cavity filled and something else T the same tue (forget what). we agreed with DD to do only one procedure but then he went ahead and did both. Also, he insisted that DD (at age 8) take Valium before the procedure, but never asked about family history of addiction prior to prescribing.

The whole situation was very off to me and I never went back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just re-read your OP. The environment you describe would not be one DS and I could deal with (bad family teeth so go to dentist more often). Where are you located?

We are in western Alexandria so looking for something there or nearby - Fall Church, Annandale, Fairfax, etc.

We go to Alexandria Childrens Dentistry and have not found that to be the case. My autistic child needs a little extra hand holding and usually they accommodate (one time one hygienist pushed back on two parents for two kids and I made a big deal about it because we have over communicated that one kid needs extra support—they capitulated and the dentist was very apologetic).

[Anonymous]

Nitrous oxide is not without risk.

The benefit to having Mom in the treatment room is Mom can call 911 if emergency services are needed.

Over 1000 people die per year (mostly young children) from nitrous oxide and other drugs administered by dentists.

We had a child die in our town when nitrous oxide was administered. The dentist left the room after procedure. The assistant left the room. When assistant returned child was dead.

[Anonymous]

Our dentist allowed me in the room when my son had to have teeth pulled and was on nitrous, but I had to sit in a corner and was not allowed to speak. She said that they want him to be fully focused on the TV and not have anyone else pull focus because the sedation is so light.

But no, I would not have consented to not be in the room, and my son would also have freaked out even more without me there.

We go to Growing Smiles in Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Not normal OP. We are restricted to one parent/no siblings but that is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

I would NEVER allow this (unfortunately, I have to add “again” because I did it once. The SOB did a brief but painful procedure and essentially told my kid to suck it up.

Never, ever again. The only reason somebody wants to separate you from your child is because they want a free hand to do as they please without having to answer to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Sort of funny. My dentist will not let me stay in the waiting room. The first time I just figured it was a one-off and they wanted me back there just because it was the first cleaning. Nope! I can't believe I have to sit there every single time my kids get their teeth cleaned. I've been debating going somewhere else. The dentist and hygienists also speak mostly to me as the parent, not the kid who is their patient.

Surprised the rest of you want to sit in there versus the waiting room. I have a baby and would prefer to be in the waiting room with her while the older kids get their teeth cleaned. Instead, they have to have appointments one at a time so I can be present for all. And I have to leave the baby and other kid with DH (meaning 2 people have to take off work).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sort of funny. My dentist will not let me stay in the waiting room. The first time I just figured it was a one-off and they wanted me back there just because it was the first cleaning. Nope! I can't believe I have to sit there every single time my kids get their teeth cleaned. I've been debating going somewhere else. The dentist and hygienists also speak mostly to me as the parent, not the kid who is their patient.

Surprised the rest of you want to sit in there versus the waiting room. I have a baby and would prefer to be in the waiting room with her while the older kids get their teeth cleaned. Instead, they have to have appointments one at a time so I can be present for all. And I have to leave the baby and other kid with DH (meaning 2 people have to take off work).

I will say that my kids are just getting cleanings and xrays, not extractions and cavities. Maybe I'd feel differently about the latter.

[Anonymous]

Massive red flag.

We’ve been to a few ped dentists and they all let parents in.

I’m not leaving my kids alone in a room in a vulnerable position like that. Especially with someone who insists on it.

[Anonymous]

I've been happy with Banaji pediatric dentists near Mosaic (they're right outside the beltway on Rt 29).

They only allow one parent in the procedure room, and don't want you right up next to the chair because they need room to work, but I don't think I had the option of sitting in the waiting room for the last procedure (no nitrous, but my son has terrible teeth so he has a lot of procedures).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would NEVER allow this (unfortunately, I have to add “again” because I did it once. The SOB did a brief but painful procedure and essentially told my kid to suck it up.

Never, ever again. The only reason somebody wants to separate you from your child is because they want a free hand to do as they please without having to answer to anyone.

There are more reasons than that. I used to work with kids at a county clinic (in dentistry), and while we didn’t have a blanket policy of no parents, we would sometimes ban the parent from the room because THEY were the problem. Sometimes kids act up when their parents are around, and the parents feed into that, making it difficult for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was young, a dentist said my mom could not come (to an evening apt). She got a bad feeling and cancelled. A year later, he was arrested for molesting patients.

I would never allow this, especially under anesthesia.

This.
I had a lot of dental work as a child, and the “well regarded” pediatric dentist did much of it without nitrous or ensuring I was numb and wouldn’t allow my parents in the room. He had a dental assistant, but I remember her leaving the room frequently. I saw that guy throughout childhood. My parents always brushed it off when I complained about the painful procedures because they thought I was exaggerating. To this day, I have tons of anxiety around dental visits, even though I have a great dentist now.
Turns out that my pediatric dentist served jail time for multiple offenses, to include assault. My mother apologized to me when she found out about his conviction. My young children will never be without a parent present for dental treatments. I have a firm line on that.

I had a similar experience as a child - my mom drove 45 minutes to take us to “the best” pediatric dentist. He used to threaten me with more novacain shots if I didn’t stop crying. He was sadistic. But because he was “the best” my mom thought I was being dramatic. I finally convinced my mom to let me go to her dentist when I was 12, and it was a world of difference.

To this day I hate the dentist and don’t get enough dental care. Having someone’s fingers in my mouth makes me want to gag and scream and panic.