Dentist Decisions

Our previous dentist was fine, and being able to have Zachy’s two dental surgeries right in the office was a great blessing, but when discussion came up about more naturally-minded dentists on one of my online groups, I was willing to look at alternatives.

Well, we are just back from their dental appointments, and the news is outstanding. All the children were fantastic. Everyone is cavity free, and I felt much more comfortable and welcome in this new office. When I called to set up the appointment, the dentist that had been recommended was not available, so we went with his partner, Dr. Jason. The receptionist assured me their philosophies were similar, and she noted in our file the things I didn’t want the children to have, and it was no problem.

I did wonder if I was being a little too much of a helicopter-mommy, though. Yessa still wanted me right with her and she held my hand the entire time she was in the chair. Because I went back with her first, that meant Buster and Monkey stayed out in the waiting room on their own, and Monkey was back in an exam chair, having her cleaning before I even realized she was back there.

Buster also didn’t seem to need me right with him, though I wanted to be. He had extra plaque build up on his front lower teeth, and I wanted to talk to the tech about that, and be ready to support him if it was painful to chip all that off.

Little things came up; he chose chocolate toothpaste, then didn’t care for it. I asked the tech if he could pick cherry instead, and she was fine with it, but I don’t think she would have offered to do it. And I do sometimes suspect that children get treated a little more kindly when their parents are around. That may not be the case in this office, and certainly, Ms. Cindy, who cleaned Yessa and Buster’s teeth was wonderful and very respectful of them. But, not having been to this office before, I wasn’t ready to trust anyone.

So, next time, I’ll try to not hover. I didn’t see any other parents back in the back, though the door was left open, and no one said a word or even seemed to notice I was back there. Another great example of me just doing what I think is the right thing, totally oblivious to if it is the way anyone else wants it to go. Tra la la…

Important message though: No CAVITIES! Third dental appointment in a row with no cavities for anyone. Woohoo!