Please help with dentist question for 2 year old

[Jacobus Rex]

Is anyone a dentist or has taken their small child to a dentist?  My little girl is 2 years old and it appears she may have a cavity.  I want to take her for a checkup and have it fixed if needed but I'm honestly a little afraid of the small child dentistry thing regarding safety mainly and other issues.

Is the gas safe for little ones?

The dentist that we contacted will not allow us to stay in the room with her.  I'm concerned about that.

It would not be so bad but my dentist told me about another dentist that killed a toddler by giving him too much gas.

Thanks,
James

[DigMe]

They're giving kids gas just for cavities now?!  Man things have changed since I was a kid!

brad cook

[Pebcac]

One of my daughters inherited her mother's weak teeth, and already has a mouthful of caps.  It's safe, but just like any other medical issue, you as the parent need to be comfortable with the doctor involved.  My daughter's dentist is a little odd, but he's good and his staff is excellent with children.

[The Rabbi]

Find a dentist who specializes in child dentistry.  I would be very leary of a dentist who told me I couldnt stay near my child.  I would also be leary of one who used gas for a cavity.

[Fatcat]

Gas, for a cavity? Seems a wee bit much.

Sounds like you need to find a new dentist. When I was young, my dentist had no problem with my parents sitting in there with me.. and they do the same for my sister now. Luckily I've only ever had 1 cavity (and 4 teeth pulled for braces.. *shudder*).

[client32]

4 teeth pulled for braces.. *shudder*

*shudder* does not even begin to explain that feeling

I agree about the not letting parents into the room bit.  I don't know why a dentist wouldn't allow it.  Ours did when I was a kid.  Of course he also griped at my mom about how ill-behaved I was when she wasn't in there...... Must have had something to do about griping about him lying to me and then me walking off.  I don't know.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I agree on finding a pedodontist, or a dentist whose practice specializes in children. My folks began taking my brother and I to a fine dentist whose practice was limited to children when I was maybe 6 or so. I saw him up until I was 20ish, after I had an emergency apicoectomy while away at college.  Oddly enough, it's not a practice specialty limited to large cities- he and his brother were in a small town of maybe 5000 some miles from my home, and I would say we passed maybe 15 other peds practices going through a town of 70,000 to see him.

Seek and ye shall find. You and your daughter will be appreciative.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[nico]

The use of nitrous for cavities, especially with children, is common and perfectly safe.  It would take a very extreme case of malpractice for a patient to die from it.  As young as your child is, it may be worthwhile to take her to a pedodontist, but there's nothing wrong with taking her to a general family practice dentist.  A pedodontist will almost definitely give her nitrous.  But, like I said, it's perfectly safe and will probably make the experience much less traumatic for your daughter as she won't really feel any pain and will be less aware of the strange things going on around her.    

The reasoning behind the dentist not wanting parents in the operatory with the child is probably because of the common tendency for parents to get upset, which further upsets their child, making the dentist's job more difficult, or in some cases, next to impossible.  That being said, I don't think doing so is good as a general policy and a pedodontist would probably not do it.

[Azrael256]

Ditto on the pedodontist.  I had a little dental work done when I was 3 or 4, and the pedodontist just had a better attitude when it came to children.  Working with kids is a whole different ballgame both physically and psychologically.  He did a good job of putting me at ease.  Our regular dentist was one of these grizzled Army dentists who scared the hell out of me at the time.  I swear he used cold chisels instead of drills.  I think he got his degree doing root canals while the confederates lobbed mortar shells over his head.

If the dentist won't let you in the room, find somebody else.  Mom wasn't real happy watching me grimace when they were drilling in my head, but she knew that it was temporary discomfort, and really was for my own good.  Having her hold my hand made a BIG difference.  At your daughter's age, I think it makes an even bigger difference.

I don't know about the nitrous bit.  They didn't use it on me.  I had a little goop to deaden my gums, and then a shot of whatever pain killer they use now to numb the tooth.  I'm a little nervous about the nitrous stuff, but I have never heard of a dentist losing a patient from it.

[grislyatoms]

My daughter's dentist will not allow me in with her.

Instead, the dentist schedules two children with similar procedures to be seen at the same time. The two kids stay together throughout each of the procedures, lending support and encouragement to each other.

She also has games, TV, etc. to distract them.

Excellent, excellent dentist, and I wouldn't go anywhere else.

[Waitone]

A child is not a little adult.  They are a different kind of human being.  Find a child specialist dentist and let him or her tell you if there is a problem.  If not, enjoy life.

[nico]

A child is not a little adult.  They are a different kind of human being.

that's true, but the difference between a general dentist and a pedodontist has more to do with knowing how to deal with children than knowing how to perform procedures on them.

[Jacobus Rex]

I've located a child-specialist dentist that does children down to 1 year old.  I've got and appointment with them for friday and have discussed the various issues involved.  I feel better about this particular dentist although she doesn't let parents back for procedures either.  I talked to 4 different dentist in 4 different cities and that is standard for tiny tots.  Also the gas is pretty standard for little ones as well.

[Chris]

Our family dentist has done check-ups on my then four year old.  He had Mike go first, with me standing by, then had me go with Mike acting as an assistant.  No problems.  But, he's the father of three.  Don't know about actual procedures, as we just had a check and cleaning.  I'd say to ask you pediatrician to have a look (they can see if there's a problem that needs follow-up) and then ask for a referral.

[41 Redhawk]

emergency apicoectomy while away at college

Wasn't that a blast....been there done that!