nervous 6 year old needing at least one crown

[concerned mom]

although my 6 year old son is generally a very easy-going kind of guy he is not very cooperative at the dentist. he needs to have at least one crown done (possibly more- they couldn't get x-rays) and it is recomended that we use a papoose board. I am concerned that this will be extreamly traumatic for him- particularly because parents are not allowed in the procedure room. Should I try and find a ped-dentist who will acomidate parents in the room - i feel that this would be comforting to my son.

[Daniel Ravel DDS]

Dear concerned mom,

Children who are very nervous for dental treatment may need sedation. In many cases, that is all that is needed.

In my own practice, I:
Always allow parents in the treatment room,
Offer to sedate any children who are nervous about dental treatment, and
Use the pappose board only as a last resort - for instance, in cases where the sedation isn't working well.