Hey ladies, I'm looking for a great, patient, non-intimidating pediatric dentist in or near plantation. My lil girl just turned three and this would be her first visit to a dentist. She's never been with me to mine and I'm not sure she knows what a dentist is/does. I don't want to scare her nor do i want her to shut down while she's there, and i definitely don't want it to be traumatizing for her. What can i do to help ease the nerves [hers and mine :)] and what to expect?
W.,
I have the name of a great and very friendly pediatric dentist, located in plantation. They are right off of Cleary Blvd. It is Kids Care Dental, 10117 Cleary Blvd., and phone ###-###-####. I hope this helps.
S.
36 y/o SAHM of 3 boys
14, 6 and 4
The dentist we went to as kids, my mom would drive an hour to get there - which was in plantation. The office is Dr. Babyak (not sure of the spelling but is pronounced bah-bee-ack). I just heard that he recently passed away, but his office is phenomenal. they have tons of things for the kids to do in the office to keep them occupied while they wait - chalkboard, hand held video games, arcade games, books, etc. And they always took all four of us back at the same time. Not sure about if he had a partner, we haven't lived there in a while, but really its the dental assistants that you see. He would come by at the very end and look at our teeth. I hope this helps.
Mainstreet Dental
www.mainstreetsmiles.com
Hi W.,
I don't know of any pediatric dentists in your area, but wanted to share my experience with you. I took my 3yo to a pediatric dentist for the first time a few months ago. He is typically very shy and hesitant of new experiences, so I was anticipating whining and crying and him just being a nervous wreck. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. The hygienist, the dentist and the office staff were wonderful! They made him feel welcomed and comfortable from the very beginning.
For the cleaning they had me sit in the chair with him on my lap (which helped A LOT). The hygienist showed him all the tools, let him touch each one and explained what it did . They gave him some cool sunglasses to wear so the bright light wouldn't shine in his eyes. First she counted all his teeth, then the cleaning was very quick. She didn't do any scraping for the first cleaning, just polishing and flossing.
At the end, he got to have his picture taken with a giant stuffed animal for the "No Cavity Club wall" and he got to pick a surprise from the treasure chest, as well as getting a new toothbrush.
When we were leaving, he actually said, "Thank you mommy for taking me to the dentist, that was fun. I want to come back tomorrow." Amazing. The only problem was trying to explain to him that he had to wait another six months.
Also I talked to him about it a lot before hand, starting a few weeks before the visit. I told him the dentist was like the doctor, but for his teeth, and we just needed to make sure his teeth were healthy like the rest of him. I told him he would sit in a big chair and have to open his mouth really wide. We practiced openin his mouth, and every few days beforehand I asked him where we were going on Saturday, and told him how much fun it would be.
Try not to stress about it. A good pediatric dental office will know just what to do.
I live no where near you so I can't recommend a dentist... but I can tell you my experience with my own kids in general... I thought it would be important to take my kids to a pediatric dentist because I remember going to one when I was a kid (with a TV by every chair so you could watch cartoons)... So I took my kids to one and they were NOT covered under my dental insurance. I came to find out from my own hygenist that the people there are dental techs instead of full dental hygenists-- not exactly sure what the difference is, but I was paying full price and the people with their hands in my babies' mouths were not as highly trained and certified as they could be. So my hygenist talked me into just bringing them to her (and my regular dentist I'd been seeing for years)instead. Now for my 3rd child, he is 2. He came with me to the dentist the last time I went and he didn't watch the whole cleaning, but he saw all of the instruments and the chair and everything. I asked him if he wanted a turn and he was so excited because of MY attitude toward it (I gave him NO reason to think there was anything scary about it). He sat in the chair and my hygentist adjusted the chair, put a bib thingy on him, and showed him the instruments. She let him hold the spinny thingy that polishes your teeth and put it in his own mouth (with it turned off) and then she asked him if she could have a turn and she did it on his tooth turned on. Then she showed him the squirty thing and gave him a drink from it. That's it. It was not his own appointment yet-- just a piggy back of my appointment, which I plan to keep doing a couple more times before he gets his own appointment.
By the way... I grew up in Plantation. If you grew up there too, check out something on Facebook about a list of 50 things you'll remember if you grew up there. I'm not on FB so I have NO IDEA how you would find it, but my sister sent it to me and it's hilarious and brings back a flood of childhood memories.
A little out of the way but I make the trip from West Palm. Worth it since you only go twice a year. We make a day trip of it and go to the sawgrass mills mall, or rainforest cafe or wanna do city etc..
DR. FRANK MAYE in South West Boca. I cannot say enough about him. He is fabulous, kind, kid friendly, let's you stay with your child which most dentists will not. I have gone through many horrible experiences and he has totally restored my faith. My oldest son had to have caps and he was put to sleep for the procedure which was the best thing for him. Basically to say I completely TRUST Dr. Maye with my child. period. I will not go anywhere else.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I have the perfect peds dentist, Dr. Kathy Garcia. She's located in the plaza with Carraba's Italian Restaurant on University Drive in Plantation. My daughter is now 15 and stills goes and she has been going since a toddler. Young energetic, patient dentist with a wonderful staff. Office is kid friendly. T. Friedrich/ AuPairCare - Live In Childcare Area Director for Broward and Dade County. http://aupaircare.com/
My dental staff is in South Boca...all female, very loving and competent. Dr. Marisol Ruiz, ###-###-####
Santina will make an appointment or give you another referral if this is too far for you to drive...
Dr. Wander & everyone in his office- my son has gone 2 times now & was seen by the woman dentist in the office.
EVERYONE is great!
Dr. Stephan Wander
Ste B
12301 Taft St, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026-4387
###-###-####
Try Dr. Michael Switkes. He is our pediatric dentist and my daughter loves him. She has been going to him since she was 4 and he has an excellent approach with children. The kids are so relaxed and its a fun environment. Hey, they even have a room with video game systems for the kids to play while they wait. His office is on Old St. Augustine road. Google his name for jacksonville for the correct address.
