Clairemont Pediatric Dental

Review: Dr. [redacted] treated my kids rudely and actually asked my aunt to take them out so that we can talk because he knew they wouldn't let us talk. The front office staff was nice and professional, but I'm afraid his back office staff seems to be following in his steps. He did some work on my son and apparently my son still felt some pain. When my son expressed pain, he actually yelled at my son to stop. I wasn't in the room with him, but my son told me the doctor was mean to him and told him to stop when he was trying to tell the doctor he felt pain. Unprofessional! Something told me not to trust him to be alone with my child. When his back office assistant was giving my son the drink they give the children to calm them down, my son had a hard time with it and she rudely, grabbed my son by his arm and said, "I'll take him over here to give him the medicine" As if she was getting frustrated. I think she thought I wasn't going to follow her, but I did. I don't understand why she had to leave the room to give him the medicine. Very rude! I will NEVER take my child to this poor excuse of a pediatric dentist EVER AGAIN! He should not be treating children at all. He has no compassion at all! During his initial exam with my children, he actually pushed my childrens' head abruptly because they moved. I should've trusted my instincts and not have left them with him.Desired Settlement: I would like him to be informed of the complaint, of who complained and I expect some communication from the office.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com,

This is a letter in response to the complaint written by [redacted]. Mrs. [redacted] brought her child to Clairemont Pediatric Dental for an exam and treatment. After completing treatment on the bottom teeth, the family returned approximately a year later to continue treatment on the upper posterior teeth. When she returned for this treatment at the beginning of July, we treated her child with the same care we had treated her children in the past. Routinely, when it comes to treatment, we talk to the parents without the children in the room. A dental assistant accompanied the aunt and children to the playing area, so that I could effectively communicate the treatment plan to the child's mother. The child was apprehensive about the dental work, so this is an effective measure to lessen the child's anxiety. During the procedure, I had to instruct the child to breathe into the nitrous. In the informed consent, it is stated to the parents that voice control may be used, similar to a preschool teacher, if a child needs to be redirected to calm down. In this particular case voice control was used to refocus the child, so that the nitrous could take effect. In response to the comment about the assistant giving the child "the drink", children are at times more responsive when their parent is not in the room, which may have been why the assistant gave him the sedative for conscious sedation in another room. The child was again apprehensive, as many children are, about having the dental work done before the procedure began. Before the procedure began the child expressed he was in pain. This was before we had begun any part of the procedure. We were able to perform the extraction after he was calm and the nitrous took effect, he did not react to the extraction, and was not in pain in my professional opinion during the procedure. The child did not complain during this time. We did everything in our power and professional ability to make sure that the child was comfortable. The local anesthesia can feel uncomfortable to a child, but again the child was apprehensive about having the work done, which again is common. We were professional and provided excellent dental care.

I feel it is pertinent for you to know that Mrs. [redacted]'s husband inappropriately threatened myself and my staff, the day after their son was treated, inside and outside of my office on July 3, 2013. This was witnessed by my staff and the staff at the neighboring office. This case is under investigation and was documented by Officer [redacted] of the San Diego Police Department.

Given the situation this family is not welcome back at Clairemont Pediatric Dental, and should seek dental care at another office, due to the father's inappropriate response on July 3rd. We understand that there are times when patients may not be satisfied with the care given, but this response was inappropriate and has been documented as a threat to myself by the San Diego Police Department.

Dr. [redacted]

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist