My Children's Last Dental Visit Was a Bit Fishy to Me...

As the parent of a minor child, the dentist can not deny you your right to be with your child during the examination or treatment of your child. Period. Cavities should not be put off too long, and that is a matter for the dentist to decide what is too long. That charge may not be out of line depending on if novacaine will be used and what kind of filling they will use. I think that getting a second opinion is not a bad idea. But a dentist who trys to bar a parent from being with their child sounds fishy to me too, though he may just want to work without someone who can disturb him (by asking questions.) Maybe he is just an old grump, lol. Anyway, for the long term, I think finding another dentist is a good idea.

J.....please take your babies to another dentist office. Get a second opinion. You do not have to tell them any details from the first visit. Please check into a kid designed dental practice. We have Kool Smiles here in VA that is designed just for kids. It is awesome! They take insurances and will work with you too. They do take kids back alone but it's all open so your kids can yell if something goes wrong. (I had a very bad experience when I was young at the dentist. He tried to make a move on me and I yelled for my mom but the doors were all closed. I got away but not before he kissed me. YUK! That's why I'm so big on open offices when kids go back alone.) Think about it, this is a service that you are paying for. You wouldn't let someone come do work on your home that wasn't right so don't let them do something that doesn't seem right either. And just because they are a dental practice does not mean they are on the up and up.

Good Luck to you!

Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys and married to my Mr. Wonderful for 15 yrs. I love to help other moms reach their goals! Be sure to keep dreaming and teach your kidos how to dream too.

Hi J.,

I feel that I must add my 2 cents worth here. Get a second opinion then find another dentist. My middle child has a lot of childhood cavities. The cost is too high!! We use Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry in Gainesville (VA)after using a family dentistry practice. The pediatric dentistry is MUCH better than a family dentist because they are geared towards kids. Gainesville is the best. You should ALWAYS be allowed to sit with your kids. Believe me, your child would remember an x-ray at the dentist.

Follow your gut, get a second opinion, even if you have to pay out of pocket. Do it for your own piece of mind and for the safety of your children. I'd be concerned and upset that my child didn't remember someone taking pictures of his teeth, yet the office is recommending drilling.

RUN don't walk to another dentist.
Do not let them drill those teeth. I would bet money that they don't have cavities and if they have them, they are tiny...
The price you were quoted is inordinate!!! That is WAY too high.
If you have insurance, find a PDP dentist so that you don't have to pay over and above what they cover. Then, once you find a new dentist, turn the old one in to the insurance company for excessive charges. Oh, and call the Better Business Bureau and make a complaint.
YMMV
LBC

Definitely sounds fishy.... get a second opinion. did that dentist come recommended? Please go to a different dentist! I hear this happens a lot with pediatric because we want to do the right thing for our children... good luck, J. d

The first this I would do is take them elsewhere. You should always meet the dentist and there is no excuse for a parent to not meet them. I would be concerned about that. It is ness. to fill cavities in baby teeth because they can cause pain just like cavities in adult teeth however I would suggest taking them to another office. I would also suggest a pediatric dentist, I have a feeling you will be happier if you were going somewhere that you felt more comfortable and somewhere that you can meet the dentist. I worked in a dental office for some time and we would never take a child back and not have the parent meet the person that was working on them and the dentist would always discuss the treatment plan with the parent.

Regardless as to which dentist you see, if you child has a cavity in one of his baby molars you should probably have it fixed. He won't lose those teeth until 10-12yrs of age.

I think I'd find a new dentist. It's not the cavity part that I think is fishy, but things like wanting to drill based on old xrays. My stepdaughter has problems with cavities and has had to have a few fillings in baby teeth to prevent further problems (like a kiddie root canal). Typically, our dentist does not want to wait 6 months on some of the cavities based on their progression.

I'm not concerned about the part where you say they wanted another visit - this is common. With schedules, they may not be able to do the fillings right then. But the old xrays, the not bringing you in to talk, etc. that would make me want a second opinion.

I would like to respond to the basic problem of the situation, not the drilling or financial issue, but the reason behind the cavities in the first place. This is not a good sign for the future. More than likely, your children will require dentures in their 20's or 30's. Dental problems are evidence of an acid diet--the typical American diet, so you aren't completely to blame. But you need to know the facts so you can make some important lifestyle changes for your kids, or their future is grim. Your generation is the one where your parents will see their children die before they do. So your children will suffer the same fate--early disease and death--because of simple lifestyle.
How do you turn it around? Change your and their diet. Get alkaline. Check the pH of the urine and saliva. I have test strips available at my office and on my website. Get rid of all sugar, caffeine, flour, red meats and dairy. Yes, I said DAIRY. Milk is acidic and causes the loss of calcium (Yes, I said LOSS) in the body. First the teeth, then the bones. Eat vegetables, vegetables, and more vegetables. I will have an alkaline diet booklet at my office once I have approval from the publisher of a book.

I don't think you have to worry about the dentist trying to do unnecessary procedures. There is enough disease and tooth rot out there to keep them busy. They don't have to create business to live. They do have to cover expenses. Because they have entered the insurance world, their prices are much higher. They have to be to cover all the visits that aren't paid for. They have a lot of staff, and their work is labor-intensive. It is typical now to do the cleaning with a hygienist and the work at a different time. The dentist doesn't have the time to allow for fillings after a cleaning.

L. Cheek, M.D.
www.sevenpillarstotalhealth.com
28 Town Center Drive
Dublin, VA 24084

Call your insurance and ask / or ask your pediatrician to look at those teeth. The definition of a cavity varies from office to office. I would think you could see the cavity if they are big enought to necessitate a cavity on baby teeth at age 7.

R.

I wouldn't expect them to fix cavities the same day as a cleaning appointment but what you're saying does sound fishy. Is it possible that your child does not know what pictures of your teeth means? In any case you should be allowed, and encouraged to be at the appointment and it should be the dentist discussing care with you. I don't know where you are located but my kids' pediactric dentist is the bomb. His name is Dr. Barney and he has offices in VB and Chesapeake. (and is a Concordia preferred provider) Good luck but consider a second opinion.

do their teeth hurt? if it doesnt bother them then id let it go. use act restoring mouthwash and brush twice a day and floss. if they hurt and keep them from eating certain things then i'd get a second oppinion. i think cavities cost lik 120-160 to fill. but thats for adult teeth. not sure if there is a difference.

Oh girlfriend! I would find another dentist. One your fillings should not cost that much, at least I have never had fillings that cost that much. And two, they cannot keep you from going back with your child. I would have just said, I am coming back or I am walking out with my child. New x-rays definitly need to be taken.

B. Deck
www.ubah.com/X2733
____@____.com

It does seem a little fishy to me. My son is 4 almost 5 and it cost me almost $200 dollars for a cleaning that took 3-5 minutes and i was in there. They did say he has no cavities so that was good but she said we were brushing so good he would never have any. So why so much for the cleaning was my question. I can't believe you did not insist on going in there with your child. They should not suggest that the parents stay outside while they do whatever to your child. I hated going to the dentist. My mom was always there to hold my hand. I would believe your son that they did not take any pictures and i would call them on that. Get a second opinion

whether or not to have the parents come back is an individual decision by each dentist, but if you're not comfortable with it you should certainly discuss it with him or look elsewhere. scheduling the work on another day is very common and no cause for alarm at all. filling tiny cavities in baby teeth would warrant raised eyebrows from me, and with no Xray? and that ridiculous cost?
oh no. i'd question that for sure.
incidentally, why NOT question the Xray? i mean, why ask your kid and not the dentist office? you have a right to know.
khairete
S.

Find someone else. Seems fishy to me too and I would have to say go with your gut.

We went to a ped. dentist like that once. Only once. That is ridiculous!

If you are anywhere near VA Beach, give Dr. Kent a call at ###-###-####, they are WONDERFUL. They are happy to have you with your child, explain everything AS its happening. My 7.5 year old has had several cavities filled there and its been a good experience.

Good luck, S.

I'd get a second opinion, and call your insurance co. to see if they'll help cover it. If the dentist is trying to defraud you (and the insurance co.) they need to be busted! I always insist on going in with my 7 year old for her appointments. If they don't want me in there, then I can find another dentist/doctor! Noone is going to be alone with my minor child in a vulnerable place (medical practice) without me there to know what's going on. Too much can happen, and you need to follow your Mom instincts on this one. Smells fishy to me too!!

go to kool smiles they let you look through a window at your children while they are in the chair and walk you step by step though what they are doing with your children ...... my daughter had strange groves in her teeth and i just knew she was going to have to have caps but she didnt . they were very nice and explained everything to me .even when i took my 5 year old in cause she said her gums were hurting and it just turned out her molers were comming in they didnt charge me for that ! i love them

I would call and ask to talk to the dentist. I always had the dentist check the teeth after the hygenist was done and the dentist should talk to you about the cavities and what options you have. Since they are still baby teeth you might not have to drill anything. I really would get an opinion from a dentist. If you don't even get the option to see a dentist i probably would look for a diffrent dental office. Good luck!!!

Not actually seeing the dentist would annoy me. Can you get a second opinion from another dentist?

ok,

well when i was a kid i had a very bad experience with my dentist and my parents wished they had paid more attention. there is no need for you not to be in the room!!!!

if you are not happy, as with a doctor get another opinion.

but as far as fillings go and teeth you need to be dilligant about keeping their mouths clean. teaching them this now will make sure they dont have bad teeth when they get thier permanent ones.

some kids keep their baby teeth untill they are 8 also bear in mind how would you feel with a bad tooth in your head?

My personal opinon is that children to day have way too much sugar in their diet.

stay away from the candy, cut down on the cookies and only have juice in the am before you brush your teeth and in the pm before you brush your teeth get them to drink using a straw (as this cuts down on contact with juice/soda to the teeth.)

also kids from the age of 5 should be using floride in thier tooth paste as the eat just about the same junk food as most adults.

basically make sure they are brushing well after as many meals as you can. this will help cut down on your dental bills in the feture.

hope this helps.

I totally understand what you mean. As a child I don't remember all the fuss over a cavity or the urgency in taking care of it. Now, as a mom of 4, I've been to a couple dentists and the story is the same. They want to take care of the cavities in order to avoid any dangerous bacteria creeping into places- even if they are just baby teeth. While I don't know about dentistry I don't want to give in to fixing something that isn't necessary. I do think however that the dentist should come out to talk with you and explain things thoroughly. After all if you're paying that much money to them that is the least they can do.
I don't mean to scare, but when I was questioning my dentist about leaving the cavities alone until my 4 yr old's baby teeth fell out, she mentioned a story about a 12 yr. old boy who passed away from a cavity that went untreated. Apparently, the bacteria spread to his brain and it was too late. Of course his situation was extreme- he barely had been to a dentist in all his life. You can find the article titled, "For Want of a Dentist", in Washington Post.com
It's worth finding a dentist that you feel comfortable with.

I'm with you...however, I have a very informative dentist and I am in the room with them. I would find a different dentist. Depending on the severity of the cavities...I'd just wait till the next checkup...and in the meantime, get the kids listerine rinse and make sure you brush and floss daily that will help the cavities from getting bigger. I was told my 4 year old had cavities in her back teeth and the dentist said it was just "tacky" when she poked them no xrays were taken...so I feel that I'd rather not pay the $400 + right now and have been diligent in brushing. Also if you are on well water get the kids on floride tablets...that could be why they are cavity prone. Good luck!

Was this Kool Smiles? I watched a 10 On Your Side thing on Kool Smiles a few weeks ago and they were caught doing the same thing as your kids' dentist. They were giving kids crowns that didn't need them, in most cases, to get the money from Medicaid. This actually happened to a woman on my playgroup's kid. When taken to another dentist, the parents were asked why the heck their kids had crowns and all this dental work on their baby teeth.

Also, Kool Smiles will not let you go back with your kid. You have to sign a form that says you understand that is their policy. That would be a no go for me.

Ask your friends to recommend a dentist that is good w/kids. I am always in the room w/my kids for the entire visit and he explains everything to me. Obviously if you're taking the time to address this then you're not comfortable. Move on and see someone else--there are plenty of good dentists out there. Don't feel guilty--just tell the receptionist you'd like a second opinion and leave it at that. The cost does seem extremely high, by the way.

Hi J.,

Do you go to a dentist in Va. Beach? I go to one that I've found excessive on a regular cleaning. They don't seem to do them and I was wondering if you were going to the same dentist?

DROP THAT SCAM ARTIST ASAP!!! My entire neigghborhood goes to Gainesville Pediatrics Dentist. You sit in a chair beside your kid as they work on them. All the kids LOVE them. I'm not sure where you live but I highly reccommend them

I think I'd be feeling the same way you are! My girls are 7 and 5. So far, no problems with the dentist. But, I have a lot of friends whose kids have gotten cavities, and it seemed weird to me. Even my sister-in-law just had her 3 year old's tooth drilled! Maybe take them to another dentist for s second opinion? Although that costs money too. It is not unusual to have to schedule an appointment for the fillings (I've had to do that several times for myself!) Anyway, I guess I don't really have any advice, I just felt like telling you that you might be right to be asking a lot of questions. I'd be interested to hear what you end up doing.

I always go back with both my children. During and after the cleaning the dentist explains everything to my children and me. My daughter had one cavitiy and we did have to come back in two weeks to get it filled. The last time we went she had to go back and get her back teeth filled with some white stuff to prevent cavities. I think I might get a second opinion if you can afford it. I do think there are dentist out there, like my husband's, who will always find something wrong.

www.childrensdentaloffice.com

They have offices in Olney MD and Crofton MD and they REQUIRE you to be in the room with your child. Sounds more like it, doesn't it? They don't keep you from going in with your child at the doctors, why the dentist? If they told me I couldn't go back with her I would walk right back out.

Might not be a scam, but always get a second opinion and shop around an bit.

If your kids brush their teeth regularly but still eat a fair amount of sugar, there might be cavities, yes, even in baby teeth. But make sure they're there first!

By the way, the x-rays I saw of my kid's teeth were rather enlarged, they need to be so they can see what's going on. Your situation sounds shady to me, too.

-S. Kav

Hello J.,

Seek another opinion! Fast!

They have had these types of doctors on the news for mths… When I take my daughter to the dentist I am always in the room. Never send your children in there any more with out you.

Some time children will not listen to what they are being asked to do and when this happens they are sometimes held down by force. This is not good…

I have never had to put fillings in my daughter mouth and at the age of your kids I don’t think that they need them as well…

Please check around for another dentist.

My dentist will fill cavities on a different day if he has someone scheduled for a visit right after me. I would call another dentist and ask their cost. My last visit just for an exam and cleaning (no xrays) for my 2 yo was $150, so when you add up the drilling and xrays and fillings, maybe that is a going rate. Still, if you aren't comfortable with the dentist, I would go elsewhere, and if the cavity is for the 7 yo for a baby tooth, ask if it would hurt to leave it alone until she looses it if it doesn't bother her.

1.) Go to another dentist! One whenever my brother or myself needed something done the DENTIST always came out and told my mother if she wasn't in the room with us, even when we were teenagers.

2.) Don't let them go drilling! Please don't, especially if they are babyteeth, I made the mistake of letting the navy go drilling and diggin and ended up with my teeth hurting worse than before!

Point is, if they are baby teeth there is hardly anything that can be done, the 7 year olds is going to fall out soon anyways. If anything change dentists to find one that will see you as well as the children and not just be worried about his overhead.

Good luck!

This doesn't sound good to me. I love our dentist. I can go back with the kids and they spend lots of time explaining things to me and the options that we have for treatment. For one of my kids we saw he had some small cavities developing on some baby teeth that he was going to be loosing soon so we just watched them for a while. I think it is your kid and you should feel comfortable and informed about everything. I also think there is no reason you can not be in the room with them. i have 6 kids and I will take them to the dentist sometimes 4 at a time and I have lived some places where I just walked the hall and checked on them in each room. where we go now they have a large open room so I can see them all at the same time. Our dentist does schedule a separate apt. to do fillings. They book the first apt. with time for cleaning and exam so they want to stay on time. I would rather they take their time with the fillings. The high cost maybe b/c they are planning to sedate your children which some insurance does not cover. I do not have my kids sedated for small fillings. When we needed to pull a tooth from one of my daughters we had her sedated. I think you are on the right track. you need to talk to them and ask lots of questions about everything and at the end of it all if you are not satisfied then I think it is time to find a new dentist.

I would not go to a dentist that did not let me sit in there with my kids....but the price seems about right - that's what they figure insurance is for - I had a check up with my two kids and for the three of us just to be examined it was over $900! They also said my DSD had 2 cavities, but they did not give a time limit on when to fill...so I will schedule that for her, but luckily I have insurance! They will of course let me sit in there with her and they will also give her a choice to watch TV as well to put her mind at rest.

Get a second opinion as well as a new dentist. I have seen the news features about dentist scams recently and this raises red flags.

Also, make sure your children are drinking water with fluoride. You can buy bottled water with fluoride for kids if you do not like your tap water, or if you have well water.
S.

not sure where you are located...however Dr. Rosenblum Barny and Hasty are in Va Bch and Chesapeake. They Consult you in person! and always keep you informed! I think a second oppinion would be good...after all it's not your mouth...it's your kids!
good luck!