Business ProfileforCaring Family Dentistry

Was told a couple years ago I could not accompany my kid into the exam room because there was a study saying the kids perform better without a parent. My kid has anxiety so I will always go in with them. They made an exception for me that time, and the following time they told me that it was up to my dental hygienist if I was allowed to go in my with kiddo. In the past I was told they prefer not to work on children. Luckily I got a great hygienist who allowed me to sit in and have our appointments back to back. We made appointments for the fall and then I found out the day of our appointment that the hygienist had left, and it was up to the discretion of our new hygienist. The new hygienist said we were not allowed to be in the room together and that my minor, 7 years old, had to wait in the waiting room while I was getting my teeth cleaned and I could not go into the room with her despite her being very anxious about her teeth cleaning. We left without having gone to our appointments, and within 24 hours had an email saying that they allow only the patient in the exam room due to OSHA recommendations. OSHA recommendations say they encourage limiting people in the exam room, they do not say anything about not allowing a guardian or parent to a company a minor.

Our office policy has been evolving since the Covid Pandemic and it has been challenging keeping up with the ongoing changing recommendations from various State and ***************** Over the last several years multiple agencies have recommended to dental offices that only patient be in the dental operatory for safety reasons. The governmental agencies are mostly concerned with the infectious aerosols generated from dental drills, ultrasonic scalers, and piezo scalers. In addition, there are new concerns with the increased use of UV lights and lasers in dentistry.We have worked closely with our attorneys, insurance carriers and an independent advisory company who follows all current regulations to guide us with our office policies. Upon their recommendations and past history, we have instituted a policy where we will only allow the patient in the operatory during treatment whenever possible.We have experienced several incidences in the past which have also directed our policy. Most issues come from a young child in the operatory while a parent or sibling is receiving treatment. We have had children fall and become injured, we have had children pick things up from the operatory and take them home, we have had children touch sharp instruments while their family member is being treated. It is very difficult for the dental provider to monitor a child's activity in the operatory while providing treatment to a patient. This is a huge liability issue for our practice in today's litigious society.********************** statement that we "prefer to not work on children" is not true. We have a general dentist in our office who loves to treat children and she is very good at treating children. We welcome children to our office every day.****************** references the discussions the hygienist had with her at other appointments. While, to her, our decision seems in haste, we have been discussing this policy with our patients for several years and giving leniency while giving the patients notice of a change in policy. Unfortunately, ****************** did not choose to follow what we were telling her over the last several visits and is now lashing out at our practice.We do not see the need for the ** to allow us to have a one-star review from ****************** when we are trying to provide a safe environment for all of our patients and staff. If you need any additional information, please contact us.Sincerely,****************************, DDS ****************************, DDS Partner Caring Family Dentistry, PLLC Partner Caring Family Dentistry, PLLC