This review is long overdue, and the only reason I feel prompted to write one now, rather than when it happened, is because I was talking to a friend who had a similar experience here and, apparently, my PTSD from that visit decided to make a comeback. 😂 So here we are.
I had been going to Main Street Pediatric Dentistry for several years and always had somewhat mixed feelings about the practice, but our last visit was the final straw.
My daughter was 6½ at the time of this appointment and was getting her first cavity filled. Naturally, she was nervous. She was given laughing gas, and the dental assistant specifically told her that if she felt uncomfortable, she should raise her left hand and they would stop and give her a break.
When my daughter did exactly that, the assistant repeatedly told her to put her hand down, ignored her cues, and at one point physically pushed her hand down. My daughter became visibly upset and started tearing up. What bothered me most was that she had been told to use that exact signal for help, only to have it dismissed when she actually needed it.
I was also asked to stop reassuring my daughter that everything is OK, because, according to the dentist, I was making my daughter feel worse 🤷🏻♀️. I respected what the doctor said and stayed quiet for the remainder of the procedure, even while watching my daughter become increasingly uncomfortable.
There were also other things that bothered me during this visit, including the assistant and dentist speaking to each other in Spanish at one point during the procedure in a way that felt inappropriate and unnecessary, as well as the general sense that everyone was rushing to get through the appointment haphazardly.
Later that day, my daughter independently told me that having her hand pushed down was what upset her the most and that she didn’t understand why she was told to raise her hand when she was uncomfortable if they weren’t going to listen to her. That really stayed with me. She was only 6½, and she was able to articulate exactly what had made her really upset.
A few days later, I called the office specifically to speak with Dr. Penny about what had happened. The front desk took a message and told me she would get back to me, but I never heard from her.
To be fair, we had some genuinely good experiences with some of the other dentists, hygienists and assistants at this practice. Unfortunately, the inconsistency is part of the problem, you never really know what kind of experience you’re going to have.
My daughter ultimately asked never to go back, so I cancelled her remaining appointments and found a new pediatric dentist. And honestly? We are SO much happier there.
When you’re working with children, especially during procedures that can be scary or uncomfortable, listening to them and making them feel safe should be the bare minimum. One bad experience can leave a lasting impression, and unfortunately, this one did.
Pros: Fun waiting area, prizes for the kids, clean environment.
Cons: Extremely inconsistent staff and experiences, questionable billing practices, and, in my opinion, not enough sensitivity when it comes to working with anxious children (and parents).
Proceed with caution.