Protect Your Children and Their Teeth
This may be a little off topic from most of my blogs, but after watching the most disturbing investigative news report I have seen in a long time, there was no way I was going to bed without writing about it. The story was on 20/20 last Friday night on ABC. It was about young children going to the dentist and being subjected to the most traumatic experiences you could ever imagine. The videos that they showed in this report were shocking, unacceptable and you can bet I will be with my kids next time they visit the dentist. These young kids were having in some cases up to 16 root canals in one sitting, the dentist turning up the radio so parents couldn’t hear them screaming, putting the kids on a restraining board so they couldn’t move while still carry out these procedures until the kids were beyond hysteria. I can hardly even write about it.
I will let you, if you dare, go to You Tube and search the 20/20 Small Smiles story which aired Friday night January 22, 2009. The clinic that the story focused on was called Small Smiles with locations all over the country. Apparently they just settled with the Justice department this week for $24 million, and have had numerous other settlements.
Let me share a dentist story with you that happened to me. I went to a dentist many years ago, the dentist told me I had 8 cavities and that I needed them filled. I can tell you one thing; this Marine doesn’t like going to the dentist or at least their practice. So I put the procedure off and told them I would be back later. I’m glad I did that because I went to a different dentist for a second opinion and, guess what, I had no cavities. This dentist was about to start drilling for no reason at all and worse yet, I had family members that weren’t as lucky as me and ended up getting the drill from this dentist, who ultimately lost his license.
So back to your kids; do not under any circumstance let your kids go back with the dentist without you. And if the dentist won’t allow you to go back, then FIND A NEW DENTIST! If you can’t bear to watch then something must be wrong. If all else fails get a second opinion. I am sorry if this is harsh or hard to read, especially if you are a parent of young kids like I am. But as I said in the beginning, no way was I going to sleep after seeing that report. Protect your children and their teeth.
All my best
James
