LineaLanoie's Weblog

Today was our regular biweekly sedation occasion.  
Every two weeks we give some unlucky child the chance to be sedated while having their dental work done.

The fact that they will not sit in the chair short of some major restraining force being exercised against them has something to do with the choice.  A parent usually wants their little terror not to have to experience the horrors or pain of dentistry so in the interests of their child being "out of it" for the necessary work, we give them a tasty little drink – grape juice laced with a nice little bitter amnesiac.

At least half the time it works slick.  The kid drinks the drink without barfing.  Fifteen minutes later they could care less if we do their work, freezing and all.  We carry them into the "quiet room", close the door, wrap them like a cocoon, and get the work done with no incident.  It is safe and we know that most of what we do will not be remembered by the child.  In theory it makes it easier for the child to come back since they don’t remember a bad experience.

Today was our regular biweekly sedation occasion.  
Every two weeks we give some unlucky child the chance to be sedated while having their dental work done.

The fact that they will not sit in the chair short of some major restraining force being exercised against them has something to do with the choice.  A parent usually wants their little terror not to have to experience the horrors or pain of dentistry so in the interests of their child being "out of it" for the necessary work, we give them a tasty little drink – grape juice laced with a nice little bitter amnesiac.

At least half the time it works slick.  The kid drinks the drink without barfing.  Fifteen minutes later they could care less if we do their work, freezing and all.  We carry them into the "quiet room", close the door, wrap them like a cocoon, and get the work done with no incident.  It is safe and we know that most of what we do will not be remembered by the child.  In theory it makes it easier for the child to come back since they don’t remember a bad experience.

Trouble is, I think we need some sort of drink for the parents.  Their memories are too good.  If the sweet little thing with the painfuly abcessed tooth cries, they wonder if we were proceeding without enough freezing.  And in spite of all our wornings about the medication often causing the child to become very angry as it wears off, they assume the crying and kicking and rolling on the floor in anger is due to pain.

It seems like we just can’t win.  We are trying to help by offering this service and most parents just don’t seem to understand the value of what we are providing for them. 

About half our patients just do not call to confirm if they are coming or not.  Today only 2 of 6 children booked had parents that took the time to confirm the appointment.

I just have a hard time understanding parents that would rather let their child’s teeth decay than keep an appointment to fix them.  Believe me cost is not a factor.  

Very frustrating.  I am needing some way to solve this situation before my staff gives up on trying to track down and book these kids.

…a patient who slips a handful of Lindor chocolate balls into your pocket as you do her dental check-up.