I know there are a few on here (dentists I mean, although quite a few grown up kids too!)
My six year old had to have a filling around Xmas (for which i'm deeply ashamed although the dentist said she had malformed premolars, insufficient enamel or something so prone to this). All was going well until as he was cleaning the last of the decay off he nipped the nerve and she shot out of the chair and needed some coaxing back to finish the job. All was forgotten, and the lesson learnt by all about the importance of dental hygiene.
Until now. She has lost the filling at school a couple of days ago and we've made an appt to go back and have it replaced. But she's a nervous wreck now morning and night at tooth cleaning time reminding her that the appt looms, sleepless nights, etc. I know that he'll probably not need to excavate much if at all this time, and it will probably all go fine, but I don't want to promise her and let her down. It's got to be done but what are our options here. Is a local possible / going to be worse than the treatment. What age can you give a kid a sedative, etc. Would like to discuss with him tomorrow knowing a bit myself, as i wasn't *that* impressed last time with his bedside manner when it all went pear shaped, and don't want him to just force it through making us believe there are no options.
This is a rubicon moment. If it goes well she'll probably never fear the dentist, badly and she'll have a lifelong phobia. Help!!