Dental appointment for ds

[ima062002]

Both my kids have been to the dentist today and both have cavities. Ugh. Between their teeth, so the brushing was fine, but they need to floss from now on as well. Anyway, my ds, who will turn 5 in June has never had a filling. My dd1, who will turn 7 also in June has had two and once had it done with an injection to numb the tooth. She didn't like the feeling afterwards, but I think she won't have an issue of having it done again. I will tell her that otherwise it'll hurt.

The issue is with ds. The dentist advised me not to talk about the needle/injection and that they won't show it to him and if he feels a prick he'll tell him that it was his finger nail or something. They call the numbing agent "tooth juice" or something like that and the words he used where in general cutsie words. It doesn't sit well with me that they are trying to trick the kids and lie to them and on top of that talk to the kids as if they are idiots. OTOH, what do I know. The dentist does only kids and has a lot of experience. He said that at his age he'll be just freaked and that it will cause him to be anxious and maybe even fight the procedure.

I planned on futzing around with Photoshop and make a little booklet for ds, with a page for every step of the procedure, including the injection and end it with us going home and him watching his favorite show. I thought I'd read it to him several times next week, especially just before the procedure in the waiting room.

What would you do?

Ps. If any of you are dentists; they want to do silver fillings instead of white. Any thoughts on this?

[JudyJudyJudy]

I don't agree with not telling the kids the truth. As for the silver filling, I'd give an absolute "hell, no" on that. If they tell you that your insurance will only pay for the mercury filling (which they call "silver"—more of their "let's not be totally truthful"), I'd tell them that I'd pay the difference. Hell, maybe I'd even find another dentist.

[ima062002]

Yeah, I've googled amalgam vs. composite and we'll do the latter. The dentist was correct in telling us that amalgam is harder, i.e. longer lasting, but I was a bit pissed that he tried to sway us, rather than give us both sides in a neutral way. He's not going to fix the teeth though (it's a kids dentistry that sees patients on Saturdays and it's with a different doc every other weekend).

[Sputterduck]

I would tell my son what was going to happen. He would react better that way, and I would have too at 5.

No way in the world would I let them put mercury fillings in my son's mouth.

[JustMoi]

I still have the silver fillings from my childhood, and I'm 40. How weird is THAT.

[Mommy2Ella]

For the back teeth the silver fillings are the best.

And i dont see anything wrong with hiding the fact that they might stick a needle in the child's mouth. If the dentist does that all the time and they can hide it, then yay. I would think that this first experience could make or break his dental experiences.

I had my one and only cavity when I was 5. I have always loved going to the dentist. However, I have a brother that had a few cavities in his baby teeth and he at some point became terrified of the dentist. He would scream bloody murder at cleanings.

If you are 5 would you rather go see the man who hurts you or the man who squirts tooth juice on him and says cutsie things. I think that you can be honest for the most part, but you can screen things and call it tooth juice to a 5 year old.

[Peeka2]

Depends on the kid. I would never warn my ds1 that he was getting a shot. ever. He works himself into a complete panic over the whole thing and would be hysterical before he got there. He is that scared of needles.

As for the other stuff. Don't ever see a dr/dentist that you can't trust. Trust your instincts. If you feel something is off or are not comfortable with something either talk to him about it or find a new dentist...

[Sputterduck]

For the back teeth the silver fillings are the best.


Why would you be okay with putting something that leaks mercury over time in a small child's mouth?

[Tweet]

I agree that it depends on the kid. I do believe in being truthful about most things, but if I had a kid that was scared of needles in a big way, I may go with the whole "tooth juice" thing. I have one kid that needs LOTS of preparation when it comes to needles and one that does far better when I tell him AT the appt instead of weekes/days before. Otherwise he will literally make himself sick with anxiety and worry.

The mercury fillings would not be happening and I'd be considering another dentist.

[JudyJudyJudy]

For the back teeth the silver fillings are the best.

If you like potential serious health problems.

[ima062002]

Depends on the kid. I would never warn my ds1 that he was getting a shot. ever.

I wasn't going to *warn* him about it. It could be as simple as telling a kid what was going to happen. Or if I'll find the time making a booklet that shows all the steps. I would never make a big deal about the injection.

My dh told me tonight that when he took dd1 (who is squeamish) he told her about the option of a shot and not feeling a thing or no shot with the possibility that it might hurt a little. He told her that he never got a shot with his fillings. She went without the shot and the dentist told her to squeeze her hand if it felt uncomfortable. She did a few times and the dentist paused and waited for permission to continue. I think that because dd1 felt in power, she was more relaxed.

I've decided today, after reading your posts (peeka2 I think yours said to go with my gut about the place) that I will send them both to dh's dentist (they were there and I switched because the dentist is over an hour's drive away... but she is fabulous). Dh will do what he did with dd1 a few years ago and give them both option; being straight forward without making a big deal about it.

[SingingMom]

With my younger kids, I also got a Play Dough Dr. Drill and Fill and played with it with them. I explained about dentists fixing holes in teeth, and about hygienists cleaning teeth, and let them play dentist several times before their first appointments. It seemed to help them understand what was going to happen.

[Peeka2]

That sounds like a good plan.

FWIW I wasn't critizing how your were going to tell you child about what was going to happen. I was simply saying that I wouldn't do it with my child because of how he is. All kids are different and he is just extemely scared of needles. Only you know your child the best. :)

[MrsKitty]

I agree that it completely depends on the child. For a child like how I was? Heck yes, lie lie lie. I once had a screaming fit at a hospital because I found out I might have to have a big injection several months later. I still can't deal with needles. When I went in for the gestational diabteties test the nurse asked me if I was okay because I went white when she tied the tube on my arm.

My son? I would tell him the truth. He is really "whatever" about these sorts of things. When he got injections for traveling he laughed after and said "That wasn't so bad" to the shock of the nurses, and when he had to have a numbing injection for stitches he didn't even blink.

I know that I have cavities that need to be filled and I haven't gone to the dentist in like a year, because I know it will lead to a needle. If there was a way around that..

[Sputterduck]

It's just tooth juice MrsKitty. Don't worry. :) *pat*

[ima062002]

Play Dough Dr. Drill and Fill

ROFL. What a funny game/toy. My grandmother (who was a dentist) would have so bought this for her great grandchildren LOL. I might get this for my kids. Maybe one of them will step into the great grandparents' footsteps (granddad was a dentist too - and yet all my teeth are crooked...).

[madelsmama]

I had my mouth numbed several times as a kid. I knew to expect the numbing medicine and was familiar with the tingling feeling that accompanied it. I don't think I realized that there was a needle going into my mouth until I was an adult, and I'm totally okay with that. I don't think I would have been as compliant with the procedure had I have been aware of the needle.

Seems like prior to the injection I was given a swab with local anesthetic. That usually helped.

[MrsKitty]

It's just tooth juice MrsKitty. Don't worry. :) *pat*


The problem with not being five..is that I don't believe you ;)

[jessiehannan]

Would a hunky dentist help? If he promised to kiss it and make it better?