Anonymous wrote:

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 ?

Never even heard of such a thing.
Always went to regular plain ole ones.

**advertises her cluelessness**

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.

The decor of the office and the general vibe of the pediatric dentist made it more enjoyable for young DC - as enjoyable as a trip to the dentist can be!

We left after braces came off - just short of age 14. The pediatric dentist and the orthodontist had a good collaborative relationship that we found beneficial.

Never used a pediatric dentist. Maybe if my kid had major dental issues or anxiety or other special needs we would have. But their dental work was really just cleanings, occasional x-rays, a filling or two...a family dentist worked just fine.

Switched when our insurance changed. DD was 11 at the time and already doing consult with ortho so absolutely not a big deal. Family dentist is just as good and not as expensive as pediatric dentist.

Made the switch when they were in HS - it actually was easier to get appointments at the pediatric dentist than the regular practice.

Ended up booking on last cleaning at the pediatric appointment for 6 months out and then went next door and added them to the general dentist schedule for a year out.

Both my DS and DD kinda laughed at the decor as they got older and jokingly went home with a balloon after their cleaning!

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 ?

Never even heard of such a thing.
Always went to regular plain ole ones.

My two older daughters are 19 and 17 and they still go.

Anonymous wrote:We never used a pediatric dentist.

Then why would you respond to the thread

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.

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.

They've been at a family dentist the whole time...

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

Mine got kicked out at 20! 😜

Early elementary only because it was difficult to get appointments if we ever had to cancel and that’s too inconvenient. Ours was so popular.

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

We loved our kids pediatric dentist and their entire staff, so I inquired if I could also get my cleaning done there, since I was bringing my kids in anyways. Eventually, over the years - all of us started going there and now we like that practice only. We are in our 20s and late 50s.

My DH was so deathly scared of dentists that he had probably gone only 2-3 times in his life. I got my pediatric dentist to look after him after all other pediatric patients were done for the day, and he now has one hygienist and one dentist who look after him. They have accommodated us as well as other parents of their pediatric patients.

My DH is a big guy not afraid of anything, but I had to hold his hand for his first cleaning. It was so surreal for me to see my DH so scared.