This is in response to my son's abhorrent treatment note, where you fail to mention quite a bit of detail and instead make him out to sound like an uncooperative and unstable person. It makes me angry that this was your official report and is part of my son's medical record now. My son is 14 years old. He's smart, well adjusted, a good friend and peer at school, well regarded by his teachers, a good role model for other kids, helpful, kind, thoughtful and aware. He has grown up in an environment where his voice and autonomy matter and he's encouraged to stand up for himself. He has also had horrendous experiences from dentists in the past and has seen other family struggle with dental procedures; which was discussed with your staff in depth throughout this ordeal. Which you also fail to mention. So, I'd like to reiterate a few things and add some parts you missed. The first line in your note claims that my son was unable to be treated due to behavior management. I'd like to argue that it was the behaviors of the "professionals" handling my child and not him. Also, I was unaware that a dental technician degree also came with a psychology degree and they were in a position to making behavioral, emotional, and mental diagnoses on people, especially children. During the first half of the notes regarding my son's "behavioral issues", you fail mention the part where we explained his previous experience at the age of 8 at another facility. You fail to mention William's explanation of first being lied to by other "professionals" about the course of treatment he was about to have done and being caught off guard to the point of having to reschedule. You fail to mention that his fear of having the anesthetic shot is because he had to be injected twice at his previous procedure, because the technician did it wrong. You fail to mention the part where my son discussed a very real fear of having the drill cut his gums again. Dr. Nordstrom also told us many times that he could do the procedure without anesthetic, at the first appointment, so to imply that he insisted on anesthetic for my son's comfort is outrageously misleading.
You fail to mention the part where the doctor mocked his age, "how old are you, because you're acting like you're 3". You also didn't mention the part where you threatened to tie him down and told him that was a perfectly reasonable solution. At one point Dr. Nordstrom rudely commented that cavities don't start at the dentist, so if we had better home care, we wouldn't even be there. At which point I said that a fear of the dentist starts at the dentist and I reminded him that my son's cavity was because of a groove in his tooth, that it was developmental and in a place that they couldn't even get to at his cleanings. It is also claimed that I continued to try and get my son to cooperate. This is 100% true. As any mother would do and in an effort to keep him from having to come back and further endure this type of "treatment". It was also implied that the prescription medication they gave him had no effect on him. This is completely absurd and the technician also acknowledged that he was clearly effected by it. His fear of their tactics and words and his previous experiences were greater than the effect of the medication. The second I brought him back to the car he cried and fell asleep and he slept the rest of the night and was groggy the next day. He's a child and he received an adult dose of a sedative. Also in these notes, the use of nitrous oxide is mentioned. At the first appointment, when I immediately began to recognize my son's fear, I mentioned that nitrous oxide had been used at his last procedure and seemed to help a little. At no point in the conversation did I ever use the words "laughing gas". That is a term that the technician used each time it was brought up. We don't use inappropriate terminology with our son, as a rule, and especially when it comes to medical procedures. The doctor claimed that it was a safety hazard to the staff and patients to have nitrous oxide on hand because it can leak into the air, so they didn't use it there. However, when I called the pediatric dentist, they said that they never do a procedure on a child without its use. This seems very conflicting. It's dangerous to a grown up dentist to have on hand, but not to a pediatric dentist? Could it be that it's too expensive or complicated to maintain and it's a choice not to use it?
Your notes also claim that I was interested and in agreement that my child needed therapy. This is absolutely not true. Unfortunately you grossly confused my acknowledgement of your position and opinions as agreement with you in any way, shape, or form. Also, in no way, shape, or form did I apologize for my son's "behavior". Only the circumstances. My moment of defense and explanation was in no way an apology for my son defending himself. The way my child was handled and the documentation of it is awful. We won't be back. read more
