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M.B. asks from Roselle Park, NJ on January 05, 2012

Very Bad Dental Experience #2 - Roselle Park,NJ

My 3 year old son has a tooth that needs to be pulled that has landed him in the ER twice yesterday because of an abcess. My dentist has known about this for 2 weeks but did not file prior authorization yet despite repeated calls to her alerting her to the problem and despite promising she would squeeze my son in. She told me it is my fault my son has cavities because "if i had just brushed his teeth this wouldnt have happened". The fact is I brush my sons teeth 2x a day, and when I told her this she didnt believe me.
I have called her now 3 or 4 times, they still havent submitted the prior authorization forms. She wants me to bring my son in and have him strapped down so she can "deal with him" (the prior plan was to put him under general anaesthetic). I said no because I dont want him traumatised- no mommy or daddy allowed in the room when he is tied down- and in "agony" and when i told her his cheek was swollen she accused me of lying to her! What reason would I have to lie? To get my son to have surgery faster?
She told me to see an oral surgeon which we did. The oral surgeon reffered us back to her. We have a private HMO and state insurance and yet we cannot seem to find a normal dentist who is willing to give my son a) a general anaesthetic and relieve him of the agony he is on, or b) filing the forms and put him under so his issues can be dealt with. I do not even trust this Dr anymore, I am so upset by the way she was and how she spoke to me and I just dont know what to do anymore :( :(

This is a pediatric dentist and he is on antibiotics. I am just upset about the delays in the office and how rude the dentist was to me!

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So What Happened?™

Just to clarify we want him put under and thats what the dentist suggested initially. Tonight when I called for the fourth time today she told me to just bring him in for them to strap him down because the prior authorization takes ages according to her. Of course, she didn't blame her staff who were supposed to deal with this 2 weeks ago :(

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D.K. answers from Sioux City on January 05, 2012

Put him under and don't back down! One of mine had an deformed tooth that ended up needing pulled. We didn't put her under and we have had trouble with dentists every since. Don't settle for gas either. If I had it to do over again, I would have had her put under.

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D.B. answers from Charlotte on January 05, 2012

I would call your insurance company and ask for a supervisor. Pour out your heart. Ask to get an oral surgeon without having to go through this woman. Tell the insurance company that you need to fire this awful dentist.

See what they say. I'll bet they help you. Tell them that they don't want your son in the ER again - that just costs MORE money!

Is your son on antibiotics? He needs to be if he is swollen.

I am SO sorry - I have such a wonderful dentist who would never treat any customer this way.

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J.C. answers from Anchorage on January 05, 2012

Find a new dentist, and file a report on her firm for mishandling your case.

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W.. answers from Chicago on January 05, 2012

Oh my God.... please don't EVER take your son back to that horrid horrid human. EVER. Not only does she not have any people skills, she is un-informed and unprofessional.

First of all, there are some dentists that don't let parents back there because the parents can make it worse for the kids and the parents can be hard to deal with and distracting. However, he's your little guy.... so you need to do what is best.

PLENTY of little kids are put under general anesthesia all the time and are fine. Pick the lesser of 2 evils. I would probably go under general anesthesia... if you go with someone who has worked with kids it won't be a problem.

Call the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, umdnj, NJDS.
110 Bergen Street Newark, NJ 07103
###-###-####

Their professors have probably taught 1/2 the Dentists in the state. They should be able to refer you.

They might be able to see him. Lots of people don't want to go to a college to have work done. But if you can take a little extra time it's actually the BEST care because they are supervised and they are doing their absolute best and follow all the rules step by step.

Good luck.

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B. answers from Augusta on January 05, 2012

Find a pediatric dentist.
Change dentists and get one specialized in dealing with kids. that is the #1 best way for kids going to the dentist and to deal with this problem.

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D.K. answers from Sioux City on January 05, 2012

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T.M. answers from Tampa on January 05, 2012

Wow, sounds like you need to raise holy hell on this one. Actually, I think that I would be finding another dentist quickly. It really doesn't matter why your son has this problem. The important part is that he is in pain and needs help from a dentist to relieve his pain.

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B.G. answers from Champaign on January 05, 2012

Call your insurance company and see who they recommend. You could also ask your ped to see if there is someone he/she recommends. Any pediatric dentists in the area? That might really be a good idea, because this is surgery.

Out little one needed surgery. (Not dental, but surgery nonetheless). We were blessed to have a pediatric urologist who only works with pediatric anesthesiologist. He told us that our son was safer with a pediatric anesthesiologist than one of use would be with a regular anesthesiologist because they specialize in pediatrics.

I like Jo W's suggestion of calling an anesthesia group. They should know which dentist will be good with your little guy.

Good luck. This really does break your heart!

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❤.M. answers from Los Angeles on January 05, 2012

Could you maybe go see someone else in your HMO?
I don't know that I would trust them.
Also, I don't like the fact that they won't let you back w/your child.
I see why they do it but I'm not a fan.
Maybe try someone else. Even if you have to pay more. Your child is still young.
Sorry for your poor little one.

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M.H. answers from New York on January 06, 2012

Go to another dentis t!!! No way I will do that to my child. Unity Dental in Clifton take HMO. Dr. Patron is the lady you want to see very nice and great with children. I do not go there anymore because for now I have PPO and go to a Dentist nearer to me. Good Luck!!!

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S.S. answers from Chicago on January 05, 2012

I have so many horror stories about dentists, finally found a wonderful one, and wish I could help you. He is in pain, start calling the HMO, complain, and start calling the state insurance for other names ASAP. THIS is terrible and your poor baby...Call the American Dental Association, whomever, you do not have time to be a nice guy. Brushing the teeth is not always the issue, and that is a lame excuse. And seriously, what is the deal with the ER? Why wouldn't they send you somewhere. The very first thing he needs, to get the absess down would be antiobiotics, then they remove the tooth. Where can you get antibiotics. If you can even get him to the regular doctor, they give him the antibiotics, it kills the infection and makes it go down and be sure to use tylenol with that, and then they remove the tooth. Poor mama, poor baby. grrr....Good luck.

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C.D. answers from New York on January 06, 2012

you have to get it done whether you pay or not i think he should have been on antibotics but my little one had one pulled didnt hurt much why not a shot to numb and then pull it

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G.T. answers from Rochester on January 06, 2012

You need to see a different dentist! Even if you have to pay out of pocket!

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J.D. answers from Cincinnati on January 05, 2012

I don't think your son will be traumatized by general anesthetic. You should be allowed back in the room when its given to him I would think. My son was sedated a lot for testing when he was younger and we always would go back until he was out then would leave until they called us. I would be finding a different dentist that cares. I don't think that an absess in something to play around with but I"m not a dentist.

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H.J. answers from Minneapolis on January 05, 2012

Dental through state sucks. Most dentist think all who are on state insurance do not care about teeth cause well in all honesty most who are on it don't care.

For those of us who do...somethimes you just have to bite you lip and pay out of pocket and go somewhere where they care. There are a lot of great dentists out there. I would pay out of pocket and have it done that way...yes costly but worth it in the end.

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