Almost 5 year old and the dentist

Cora has a dentist appointment on tuesday. I'm dreading it so much. She has such bad dental anxiety

She had a rather traumatic experience at the dentist right around the time she was three and ever since then, it has been hell when she goes

She is fine in the waiting room. She is fine sitting in the chair.

As soon as the dentist comes in, she cries and screams the entire time.

As soon as we say it is over, she stops and is fine.

Then we go to check out and she doesn't wanna leave cause they have cool toys  

Not going isn't an option. Gas isn't an option.

I'm sure that if she didn't have the trauma then she would be totally cool with the dentist. She was fine with them before it happened.

(the traumatic incident was when she fell and had to have her front 2 teeth pulled immediately. No gas, no sedation. They had to strap her to the "butterfly board" and just give lido)

Any tips for dealing with child dental anxiety? something I haven't tried before?

Holy crap, I'd never want to go to the dentist again, either.

Hmm. Do you talk about it beforehand? That you know she's scared of the dentist, but they aren't going to hurt her, they're just going to clean her teeth (or whatever they may be doing)? Or does that do nothing?

does she react the say way to the dental assistant or just the denist? You could always trick her and tell her the denist is just an assistant or x-ray tech. At that age all they do is a simple exam that's quick and painless. If she reacts to both try having her have an Ipod with her favorite music or something

Quoting The Doctor:" Holy crap, I'd never want to go to the dentist again, either. Hmm. Do you talk about it beforehand? ... [snip!] ... they aren't going to hurt her, they're just going to clean her teeth (or whatever they may be doing)? Or does that do nothing?"

She is fine with role playing at home. We take turns being the dentist. I even have a little mirror and everything for her to practice with.

We make a plan and write it down (like step one is take the bus, step 2 is walk to the dentist, step three is play with the toys, step 4 is see the dentist, step 5 is more toys, step 6 is some fun activity or treat afterwards)


I feel like smurf for letting them take her teeth out but honestly, there wasn't a choice. Cora was in pain and couldn't eat. It was the best decision at the time.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" She is fine with role playing at home. We take turns being the dentist. I even have a little mirror ... [snip!] ... teeth out but honestly, there wasn't a choice. Cora was in pain and couldn't eat. It was the best decision at the time. "

Is she allergic to sedation or something, or was she too young?  


Hmm. Is this a dentist she's seen a few times? Maybe if you let him know what's up he'd be willing to come to the waiting room and talk to her, maybe ease her fears without her sitting in the chair, yet... I dunno. Maybe something like that would help, instead of sitting in the chair and having him just come in and start working?

Quoting summerbabyX2:" does she react the say way to the dental assistant or just the denist? You could always trick her and ... [snip!] ... a simple exam that's quick and painless. If she reacts to both try having her have an Ipod with her favorite music or something"

she reacts to anyone going near her face.

I will try the iPod though. That is a good idea that we haven't tried yet. They have wifi so she can watch whatever she wants to on netflix

Quoting The Doctor:" Is she allergic to sedation or something, or was she too young?   Hmm. Is this a dentist she's seen ... [snip!] ... I dunno. Maybe something like that would help, instead of sitting in the chair and having him just come in and start working?"

It's Eastman, if you have ever heard of it.

Not allergic, just not covered by insurance for routine exams.

The dentists all come out and hang out in the waiting area with the kids from time to time. They do thier best to help the kids feel at ease.


She sees the same dentist every time, though this dentist might be new if her other dentist graduated   I just don't know. They are all students so when they graduate, they leave.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" It's Eastman, if you have ever heard of it. Not allergic, just not covered by insurance for routine ... [snip!] ... might be new if her other dentist graduated   I just don't know. They are all students so when they graduate, they leave."

Geez.   That's rough. I have no idea... but damn insurance for saying 2 teeth pulled is a routine exam....  

Is it a pediatric dentist? The one I take DD to has tv on the ceiling right above the chairs so that the kids can watch tv while they work on their mouths. They give them a ballon, and a prize toy along with a goody bag with cool dental stuff for kids. And at their first visit they get a cool tshirt. Maybe you should look around and see what other offices are there.

DD had to have dental work and she knows that it will hurt a bit (they numb her and give her gas but she can still feel a bit of pain) but they make the whole visit a cool experience that she doesn't mind that bit of pain lol!

Quoting The Doctor:" Geez.   That's rough. I have no idea... but damn insurance for saying 2 teeth pulled is a routine exam....  "

oh no no, insurance would have covered it, if we waited.

Cora would have had to go to the oral surgery suite and be sedated. They don't keep NO in the regular chairs.

But there is no way that we could have waited. Cora couldn't even close her mouth all the way, it hurt so bad

<blockquote><b>Quoting Kelly&Coralie:</b>" It's Eastman, if you have ever heard of it. Not allergic, just not covered by insurance for routine ... [snip!] ... might be new if her other dentist graduated   I just don't know. They are all students so when they graduate, they leave."</blockquote>




I wonder if you tell them that the gas isn't covered by your insurance that they might comp it? Some doc's will do stuff like that.

Quoting GlamChic:" Is it a pediatric dentist? The one I take DD to has tv on the ceiling right above the chairs so that ... [snip!] ... she can still feel a bit of pain) but they make the whole visit a cool experience that she doesn't mind that bit of pain lol!"

Yes it is a Peds Dentist, but it is also a dental school.

It's the only place that takes Cora's insurance.  

It's open air, no private rooms. Just cubicle dividers between the chairs. No fancy things.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Kelly&Coralie:</b>" Yes it is a Peds Dentist, but it is also a dental school. It's the only place that takes Cora's insurance. ... [snip!] ... that takes Cora's insurance.   It's open air, no private rooms. Just cubicle dividers between the chairs. No fancy things."</blockquote>




Sorry to hear that  

What ins is that?

Quoting GlamChic:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Kelly&Coralie:</b>" Yes it is a Peds Dentist, but it is also ... [snip!] ... Just cubicle dividers between the chairs. No fancy things."</blockquote> Sorry to hear that   What ins is that?"

Medicaid, Blue Choice Option

<blockquote><b>Quoting Kelly&Coralie:</b>" Medicaid, Blue Choice Option"</blockquote>




I'm not familiar with it but in NJ almost everyone takes Medicaid.