Dear Pediatric Dentists: Getting a cavity filled isn't supposed to be fun

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  Posted by Crabmommy Thu May 22, 2008 11:22am PDT

  I agree with you 100% here. Overheard 2 moms discussing pediatric dentists last week. One of them said, 'When the kid tells him to stop, it's over. The child is in control." And the other mom nodded and said, "My kind of dentist."

  And I thought: not mine. I mean, what? I bring my kid, psyche her up for this thing and then she gets to run the show? And maybe, then, we have to even COME BACK and finish the job because Crabtot has said "stop"? Another copay? No thanks.Yet another example of permissive hyper-child-oriented parenting. Cavities suck. Dentists aren't super-fun. That's real life right there.

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  Posted by Mimi-pz Thu May 22, 2008 3:13pm PDT

  Yep, I so agree.

  I mean, I loved going to the dentist when I was little, but (a) I never had any cavities (my grampa and great-grampa were dentists and while I didn't know them, they drilled good oral hygiene into my Dad) and (b) I got a "treasure" if I was good (usually a fake plastic ring).

  Now, at my kids dentist, I feel like we're being herded through like cattle. However, Josh had to have a filling (he had a defective tooth that needed to be filled so it wouldn't get a cavity), and he was sufficiently "scared" and "traumatized" by that event so he doesn't want to have a cavity EVER.

  And, yes.... Diet is a great way to limit the sugar and cavity fighting bacteria! Yet another reason to endorse healthy meals!

  Now, a confession, I still send my youngest to bed with a sippy cup of milk... I just can't break that habit -- cringe if you must, I do! -- but we make sure to brush his teeth and so far so good. Knock on wood. If he as a cavity, I know it will be my fault.

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  Posted by pixie Fri May 23, 2008 8:19am PDT

  WTF YOU WANT YOU KIDS TO BE IN PAIN AND SCARED OF THE DENTIST,OH THAT JUST GREAT,LET THEM BE IN THERAPY LATER IN LIFE!!!! YOU MUST BE IN CONTROL AND TELL YOUR KIDS THEY MUST BRUSH THEIR TEETH AND FLOSS,NOT LET THEM TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. THE DENTIST AND OTHER DOCTORS SHOULDN'T BE PLACE THEY FEAR.

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  Posted by cindy Fri May 23, 2008 10:57am PDT

  Getting cavities shouldn't be a punishment, If you want your child to feel pain because he or she did not do something well (brushing), then that is a punishment and you are freakin sadistic.

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  Posted by April Hughes Fri May 23, 2008 1:53pm PDT

  You are a creepy parent if you want your child in pain. My two daughters eat a lot of crap and sometimes forget to brush, and still no cavities. I know some parents that sugar nazis and their kids still get cavities. One of my daughters stressed out just having her teeth cleaned. Do you really want to have to hold your child down next time? You will if you take them to a dentist that doesn't manage pain properly. Believe me, holding them down while they scream is not fun. Having the dentist be a happy place is wonderful, you're lucky.

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  Posted by blindowlbio.com Fri May 23, 2008 2:50pm PDT

  That's really messed up. A good way to encourage your children to avoid the dentist in their adult lives. Sick.

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  Posted by Deblovestv Fri May 23, 2008 4:25pm PDT

  I think there is a little bit of a difference between "fun!" and "in excruciating pain". I really don't think the author was saying she wanted her kid to be in pain.

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  Posted by Crabmommy Fri May 23, 2008 9:35pm PDT

  Man oh man. People, the author is not "sadistic." we do not want to punish our children and make them live in fear of the dentist. that said there's a fine line between easing kids through the dentist's chair and making it seem like a trip to Disneyland. It's just a thought. An interesting one, I think.

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  Posted by Disgruntled Sun May 25, 2008 3:08pm PDT

  I have to agree with the author. It should not be "fun" to get cavities filled. If there is no pain or shame in getting cavities then it doesn't encourage good dental hygiene. My husband's parents didn't care if he brushed his teeth or not. They could afford for him to have his teeth filled if he got cavities so it was no big deal. Well, he's now 38 and has a mouth full of metal. He's had two root canals and has at least two teeth that are about 95% metal. Now that I've been nagging him to brush and floss, his teeth have been a lot healthier because of it. I'm 38 and have never had a cavity. Why? Because my parents nagged us about brushing our teeth and going to the dentist was not fun.

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  Posted by Lady Kelien Sun May 25, 2008 9:53pm PDT

  I hate the dentist. When I was three, I had three teeth pulled and another 6 capped. In the fourth grade, my mother took me to a dentist who put me through 6 weeks of floride treatments and told my mother that my teeth didn't form correctly and I would probably have dentures by the time I was fourty. He wasn't far off. Im 35 and the only reason I don't have them now is because I am petrified of the dentist. I hate their condesending tones when they ask you if you have been flossing and brushing. One female dentist told me my teeth were rotting because I was a bad mother.

  My kids teeth aren't quite as bad as mine. All of my children have been told that they will most likely have to have crowns on their front teeth once they hit adulthood. Its not because they don't brush. Believe me they take one look at my mouth and run for a tooth brush expectially when Im hurting. These new dentists for kids, give my kids something I never had. A lack of fear. Okay, yeah we will probably have to have crowns, but we do what we are suppose to so that we won't have to have them as soon and it won't be as bad as most people make it out to be.

  So you people with your perfect teeth who think that going to the dentist shouldn't be fun can bite me with your perfect teeth. I fear the dentist and everything about them. I wish, it had been a bit more fun.

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