4-Year-old HATES the Dentist

Hi P.. My son was the same way, he wouldn;t even lay back in the chair w/o throwing a king sized fit. I tool him to Children's dental Clinic on 91st and Meridian and he did great. He even got a cavity filled while I waited in the waiting room, but you do have the option to go back with them. His dentist's name is Swati Singh and their #is ###-###-#### if you want to give them a try. Good luck to you:)

Were you in her sight during the exam? When our daughter went for her first visit, she was much better at siting still, not throwing a fuss and responding to the dentist when we "hid" so she couldn't see us but we could still see her. It was only when she would see us that she threw a fit. They realize that they have to handle things in a more mature way when mommy and daddy aren't around. Good luck!

My son used to be this way with the dentist, and with brushing his teeth everyday. It was such a terrible time of the day, and he threw up every time. Anyway, then I took him to a pediatric dentist and he did great. They told me to stay in the waiting room, which I was very skeptical about, but I did. To my suprise, he was perfect and didn't cry except when they were taking him back. My heart sank, but when I found out it worked well, I was thrilled. So, try taking him to a pediatric dentist. If that doesn't work, try another regular dentist. It may just be she doesn't like that one you go to.
On a side note, my son hated getting his teeth brushed. After we went to the pediatric dentist, I hunted on line for a new toothpaste to try to make our experience better. We had tried every toothpaste at all the stores, and he hated it. Well, I researched candy toothpaste and found Tanner's Tasty Paste which is toothpaste that tastes like ice cream. I bought some, and he loves it. He no longer cries or vomits when I brush his teeth. That may have helped with him liking the dentist too, since our home experience is much nicer now.
To help her prepare, just tell her the dentist will be tickling her teeth.

I don't know if this will help or not, but I take my daughter to a dentist that specializes in dealing with children. She is beyond awesome, as is her staff. They take A LOT of time with each patient. They show them all the equipment, and let them touch it. They have big stuffed animals with huge teeth that they use to demostrate how to brush. I stay with her, and she can sit on my lap if she gets nervous. Check out the website, and see what you think: www.chicagokidsdds.com

Good luck!

My daughter who is now almost 8yrs old was and is the same. She still reacts the same way even though she know that (well sometimes) he is just looking. The dentist refered us to a specialist as well and she reacted the same way, however with the paticence the dentist and staff had with her is was better after a short time (she still cried) but not the all out hystrics. Give the specialist a try.

I just took my daughter to the dentist, for the first time. She is 3. I took her to a pediatric dentist and she did GREAT! We talked the dentist up A LOT before the visit. They put cartoons on, while the kids are in the chair, so that helped a lot. They also have kid friendly masks for the kids. This dentist doesn't allow the parents to be with the kids, though, while they are getting the cleaning. I thought, FOR SURE, that she would not go back there but she did because the staff and office was SO great!!! You might want to try a pediatric dentist. Good luck to you!

I just took my 4 (5 in Jan.) and 3 1/2 year olds to the dentist that Friday. This was the FIRST time that my oldest didn't through a fit to get his teeth cleaned. We didn't change dentists or hygentists. They do get the lay on me (or daddy) and watch tv. My 3 1/2 year old still through a fit though. I think it has to do with age. They both started going to the dentist when they were 2. I really think it helped my 4 year old to show us how big of a boy he has gotten and how someone who starts kindergarden next year show behave and act.
Just keep encouraging him to be a big boy while at the dentist.

I had really good luck with Dr. Grace Yum's practice. They were great. She didn't even realize that she was having an exam-- they just "played". This was after a traumatic visit with Dr. Udelson's practice (AWFUL)....

We have a wonderful pediatric dentist in park ridge that we actually got her information off mamasource from a couple of moms. The waiting room is a kids dream, they have video games, pinball machines, toys, books. And when they take them into where the dentist chairs are they first go with the assistant and pick out a movie, they play the movie and then the dentist comes in and does her thing all while showing the kids the tools that she is going to use and lets the kids see and touch them. They are wonderful, we just took my 2.5 yr old there for her first visit and cleaning. When they are done they get a goodie bag with toys, stickers, toothbrush etc.

Wee Care Pediatric Dentistry
Denise L McAllister
###-###-####
444 N. Northwest Hwy
Park Ridge, IL

Good Luck, C.

Here's something no one said yet--your daughter is normal!! No one LIKES going to the dentist. Give the specialist a try, doing it on her own helps a LOT and please don't make a big deal about it. Even talking it up in a positive way too much makes them skeptical. The more a big deal you make it, the more fit she'll pitch. And even if she throws a fit, let her go through it, it's for her own good. She cried for her vaccinations and you still made her get those, right? Good Luck!

Dr. James E. Petrie
Orland Park, IL
###-###-####

He's an older guy, but my kids love him. He's very friendly and kind.