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| - I made an appointment with Bird Dentistry to have my daughter's first dental exam. I was able to make the appointment via e-mail, which I find rather convenient. We arrived and filled out some paperwork and immediately noticed a few things: adequate parking close to the building for Bird Dentistry patients and a very colorful and playful theme inside the office. There were plenty of toys for my daughter to play with while I did the paperwork and a show she could watch on the television. The atmosphere was bright, happy and childlike. We were called back by a woman named Nakosha. Nakosha and I discussed with my daughter what was going to happen, she showed her all of the instruments she planned to use and explained what they did, let her touch them, etc. She was very patient. When my daughter refused to lay back and open her mouth, because she was terrified, she let her sit up for the first part of the exam. My daughter (who is three and a half) was hysterical for most of the visit. Nakosha did a great job of working with me to calm her down. She was inconsolable, and Nakosha's experience with kids really came through to help the situation as much as it could be helped and didn't make my daughter feel bad for being scared.
Dr. Priya Gulati came in for the second half of the exam and I immediately noticed her less than patient attitude toward my daughter. I was less than impressed with her ability to work with toddlers and was extremely disappointed when she used scare tactics to explain to my daughter why she should no longer suck on her finger. Rather than tell her the truth, which is that it will cause her teeth to shift and become painful / require braces to correct, she told her if she continues to suck her finger she will get a hole in her mouth. Now my daughter is terrified of not being able to eat, but of course still sucks her finger for comfort when she's uncertain (like seeing the dentist for the very first time). We left without finishing up the cleaning portion or having X-Rays made because my daughter (who was admittedly crying and carrying on) was being told repeatedly (and with an attitude) that she was scaring the other "helpers". There was one other patient in the room, and she wasn't even in the room when Dr. Priya Gulati began telling her to stop crying or to be quiet. I was also unimpressed that she asked me directly if I was okay (and with slight sarcasm), as if I've never dealt with this behavior. My daughter had the same terrified reaction the first few visits to the eye doctor - we go every six weeks. She's relaxed about it now because she has an amazing pediatric ophthalmologist who is extremely patient and respected her - she worked with my daughter to help her become comfortable in a room full of scary, unknown instruments. My husband and I prepare her for such "firsts" as best we can by discussing what will happen well ahead of time in a positive, upbeat manner. Then we hope the professionals also have the know-how to work with us to make it less scary for our tender-hearted kiddo.
I think the decor at Bird Dentistry is top notch, the goodie bag and the token for the prize machine is an adorable idea. I definitely won't be going back, for fear that Dr. Bird herself has the same indifference and dislike toward hesitant and tender-hearted children that Dr. Priya Gulati did. I can't say I had any warm or fuzzy feelings from the women at the front desk, either. Definitely an overall attitude in this practice.
I think if you know your child isn't going to be at all hesitant or scared - this is an awesome place for you. If you think your little one will be hesitant, take him/her elsewhere - where the dentist will be kind and gentle with your child. I have a long list of suggestions from my friends for pediatric dentists they love, we'll definitely be on the search for a new one, now. If you do choose Bird Dentistry - I hope you end up with Nakosha, she was the only person there who made us feel welcome and was extremely kind to my little girl.
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