When did your teen switch from their pediatric dentist to a regular dentist ?

[Anonymous]

Ours kicks them out at 18.

He just announced he's retiring unfortunately (he and his staff are awesome!) so I'm moving my 15 and 16 year old to my dentist who is a family dentist and is a lot closer--the pediatric dentist had moved the office further away from us a few years ago and I was willing to drive for him but don't feel the need for the guy who is taking over his practice.

[Anonymous]

They stay with our fabulous pediatric dentist as long as possible - get kicked out at 20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love our pediatric dentist but my 15 year old is starting to feel very self conscious going there because her clinic decor is clearly targeted for kids.
I know she sees patients until they are 18, but can general dentists see them earlier ? When did you make the switch for your kids ?

We never went to a pediatric dentist. Maybe once for a tooth that needed to be pulled. I just took them with me to the same dentist I went to. Often at the same time which help with busy schedules!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never used a pediatric dentist.

Why fool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're going to have to kick out us out, because the wait lists where we live are 2+ YEARS.

Why? I truly don’t get it. What is so special about a pediatric dentist? Unless your child needs some place that makes specific accommodations for special needs children- I just don’t understand the demand. Almost all general dentists see kids of any age.

I had bad teeth as a kid. It was not due to a lack of dental hygiene or a bad diet. I just was unlucky. As a result, I had many dental visits that left me with severe dental anxiety. I didn’t want my kids to fear or dread the dentist so we started with the pediatric dentist. My kids did briefly switch to a “family” dentist and they didn’t like it so we switched back. I would see the pediatric dentist at 54 if I could.

But you still would have had just as many dental visits whether you were seeing a pediatric dentist or not. What isn’t to like at a family dentist? No dino chair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're going to have to kick out us out, because the wait lists where we live are 2+ YEARS.

Why? I truly don’t get it. What is so special about a pediatric dentist? Unless your child needs some place that makes specific accommodations for special needs children- I just don’t understand the demand. Almost all general dentists see kids of any age.

I had bad teeth as a kid. It was not due to a lack of dental hygiene or a bad diet. I just was unlucky. As a result, I had many dental visits that left me with severe dental anxiety. I didn’t want my kids to fear or dread the dentist so we started with the pediatric dentist. My kids did briefly switch to a “family” dentist and they didn’t like it so we switched back. I would see the pediatric dentist at 54 if I could.

But you still would have had just as many dental visits whether you were seeing a pediatric dentist or not. What isn’t to like at a family dentist? No dino chair?

Pediatric dentists have additional training, it's not just different wallpaper. Not all "family" dentists accept young children as patients.

[Anonymous]

DS is in college and still there. Excellent dentist, ortho, and team, so glad he is still accepted. Will transition to my and DH's dentist at some point, but for now this works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're going to have to kick out us out, because the wait lists where we live are 2+ YEARS.

Why? I truly don’t get it. What is so special about a pediatric dentist? Unless your child needs some place that makes specific accommodations for special needs children- I just don’t understand the demand. Almost all general dentists see kids of any age.

I had bad teeth as a kid. It was not due to a lack of dental hygiene or a bad diet. I just was unlucky. As a result, I had many dental visits that left me with severe dental anxiety. I didn’t want my kids to fear or dread the dentist so we started with the pediatric dentist. My kids did briefly switch to a “family” dentist and they didn’t like it so we switched back. I would see the pediatric dentist at 54 if I could.

But you still would have had just as many dental visits whether you were seeing a pediatric dentist or not. What isn’t to like at a family dentist? No dino chair?

It doesn’t sound to me like PP herself went to the pediatric dentist. But you assumed that so you could get in a nasty dig at her.

[Anonymous]

Our dental insurance stopped covering it when DS turned 7...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We never used a pediatric dentist.

Then why would you respond to the thread

Part of the OP's question - can general dentists see them earlier ?

Several of us are answering "yes" by letting them know our kids always went to a general/family dentist.

[Anonymous]

We switched over once their wisdom teeth were targeted for removal. So, in our kids' case, about 15. Once their ped dentist referred to the oral surgeon for an extraction consult and they had the wisdoms removed, they all moved over to our regular dentist.

[Anonymous]

After COVID lifted. Going back after an absence amplified the “Romper Room” theme of the office and my son (now 14) was instantly turned off. We pushed through until his last baby tooth fell out and then switched.

This place was a Godsend when he was little but he outgrew it.

[Anonymous]

My kids see the same dentist DH and I see. He was/is great with kids and gave us lots of good advice about orthodontia. If your kid doesn't like the pediatric dentist then just bring them to yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love our pediatric dentist but my 15 year old is starting to feel very self conscious going there because her clinic decor is clearly targeted for kids.
I know she sees patients until they are 18, but can general dentists see them earlier ? When did you make the switch for your kids ?

Our kids are in college and still see their pediatric dentist when they come home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're going to have to kick out us out, because the wait lists where we live are 2+ YEARS.

Why? I truly don’t get it. What is so special about a pediatric dentist? Unless your child needs some place that makes specific accommodations for special needs children- I just don’t understand the demand. Almost all general dentists see kids of any age.

I had bad teeth as a kid. It was not due to a lack of dental hygiene or a bad diet. I just was unlucky. As a result, I had many dental visits that left me with severe dental anxiety. I didn’t want my kids to fear or dread the dentist so we started with the pediatric dentist. My kids did briefly switch to a “family” dentist and they didn’t like it so we switched back. I would see the pediatric dentist at 54 if I could.

But you still would have had just as many dental visits whether you were seeing a pediatric dentist or not. What isn’t to like at a family dentist? No dino chair?

It doesn’t sound to me like PP herself went to the pediatric dentist. But you assumed that so you could get in a nasty dig at her.

No, I didn’t assume that- my point was if she had bad teeth due to genetics she would have had to see the “pediatric” dentist just a frequently. The pediatric dentist and a regular dentist do the exact same things. The only difference is one might be more liberal in sedation offered.