Reply #27: My kids have the most wonderful pediatric dentist. I love her.

[PA Democrat]

My youngest child has autism and was very orally sensitive when younger. During one of her first experiences at a different pediatric dentist, the dentist was insisting on putting her in a "papoose" which is really a straight jacket. They didn't even TRY to work with her and this was just for a simple cleaning and exam. I walked out because I knew my daughter would have a total meltdown if she was restrained in their stinking "papoose" and that every dental exam after that would be traumatic.

I heard of my kids' current dentist by word of mouth. She's fabulous. She sees a large number of kids with developmental disabilities. She actually recommended a few visits for my my daughter to just come and sit in the chair to allow her to get comfortable with the setting and with her. My daughter loves her and even sat like an angel when she had to have a very stubborn baby tooth extracted several years ago. That is the ONLY procedure other than cleanings, that she has ever had done.

Other parents told me that she had an anesthesiologist who VOLUNTEERED to assist her with kids with disabilities who needed fillings or other procedures but could not sit through them. She sought out the volunteer anesthesiologist after she found out that these patients' dental insurance would not cover the cost of anesthesia. I wish every kid could see a dentist as caring as ours.