Have you met your childs dentist?

Question

My daughter had her first appt. today with a new dentist. I never got to meet the doctor. They have a rule of no parents in the back, and then a receptionist came out and told me I needed to schedule her for some teeth pulling. So my daughter is having minor surgery with someone I've never met. I know it's important to run an effecient office, but never geting to meet the doctor???? I have never heard of that before! Has anyone else, and if so do you think it's right?

Answer 1

You are in charge. They dont want parents in the back because it makes it harder to work on the kids. But tell them you need to meet the doctor before your daughter has surgery. Tell them you want the doctor himself to explain what needs to be done and you will only speak to the doctor. If they still wont let you see the dentist then you need to get a second opinion and go to a DIFFERENT dental office.

You have the right to see who is working on your child.

Answer 2

What the h**l kind of dentist has that rule? I went to a pediatric dentist who specialized in children and the parents were all over the place in the back.  Personally I'd be disturbed by that.  At the very least you have the right to speak to the dentist to ask him to clarify what happened during your daughter's appointment - if she is really young she certainly won't be able to relay all of the information to you.  If you are comfortable continuing on with this dentist I'd return to the office and ask to speak to him face-to-face about the procedure. Why does your daughter need her teeth pulled? What can you expect afterwords? What sorts of medications will they be giving her? If she is a minor you certainly have a right to speak to her dentist about all of these things but this is especially true if she is really young.

Sounds bizarre to me.

Answer 3

Never ever!!! Your child is a minor therefore the doctor may not do any procedures without you permission (your child is not going into theatre, here where you obviously can not follow), and they may not refuse you entry. I have two children which of course they have been to a dentist. This is a traumatic thing for children. The oldest one had two rotten teeth that needed to be sorted out, instead of removing the teeth they fill them and fix them up, so that the permanent teeth don't get misplaced and grow in the wrong place. I would definitely without a doubt never have allowed my children to go to the doctor, dentist etc without me being present. It is not the doctor's / dentist's call to make these decisions but to meet with you and explain your options and it is up to you to decide if this is what you want to do. This is your RIGHT to demand that the dentist not only speak with you but allow you into the room. You have no idea who you are leaving your child with. I would not take my child back there and I would get a second or third opinion before I removed any teeth, and have a relationship with the dentist that is working with my child. Your instinct as a mother is telling you that this is not right, otherwise you would not be asking this question.