Brought my son here as a new patient. Not one parent was allowed back with their kids. Two little girls were kicking and screaming because their mother wasn't allowed back with them. The assistant told them she would try to get a private room. Another woman had two little kids with her and she wasn't allowed back because only on child had an appointment. When my son was called back the employee walked me to the back and showed me how do brush my son's teeth. (I know how to brush teeth). She then Said "OK mom you need to go back to the waiting room and your son can stay here". NOPE!! She left to speak with someone and when she came back she said today we could have a private room but next time I won't be allowed back with my son. ANYONE/ANYPLACE which won't allow parents to accompany their child(ren) is not a place a child should be. Why are parents not allowed to view what is being done to their children? When parents are allowed back why do they have to go to a private room? I have a really bad feeling about this place. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN SOMEWHERE ELSE!
Do not go here! I have three kids, 6, 4, and 2. During their first cleanings around Feb 2017 I brought all three kids to their scheduled cleaning. They tried to separate my daughter from us - when she cried they agreed she could go in the private room with her brothers and myself. I then learned their policy-that at age 5 they have the kids go in the big kid room but if we wanted her to stay with us and her brothers that was fine and maybe she'd get more comfortable as time passes. 6 months later (August 2017) after already confirming on the phone when I made the appointments that I would be able to go in the room with all three of my kids together they stopped me at the waiting room door and said that she would need to go solo.. again she cried (BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANY OF THESE PEOPLE) and they agreed as long as we were willing to wait for a room -- which i don't understand because my boys already had appointments and there should be a room for them) that it was fine -- During this appointment Dr. Rucker explained to me their policy and that actually at 4 they separate the child from parents because the kids typically do better.. and when I asked and if they don't she explained that exceptions can be made and that as a doctor staff they would talk about it and let us know at my then 3 year old sons next appointment to have his cavity filled (where I could accompany him for the filling) Today was suppose to be that day and did it ever go WRONG! The hygenist calls my sons name and we go to the waiting room door. She looked at me and explained the process and said, ok mom we will see you when it's done! I calmly looked at her and said, no I am coming with him. The response was no he is 4 and it shows that he did well at his last appointment (REALLY? where he screamed while you did xrays and I held him on the chair so you could do his exam he did good??) Dr Wood advised me that his company practice is at 4 the kids go for their dental care without mom and dad because his studies he has learned that kids do better when away from the parent and what he has been taught about dental care and anxiety is they need to learn to separate. I said fine that is your company policy you need to educate your staff because for a year they have told me an exception could be made - and was when treating my daughter just a few months prior. As I continued the conversation with Dr. Wood trying to clarify if I could or could not accompany my son to have his cavity filled he continued to advise me that my children need to be allowed to be separated from me and went as far as to question if I attend school with my daughter because they or I won't let them be alone with others. I looked at him and said yes she goes to school, but nobody is examining her or doing care in or on her body while she is there -- it is much different! He disagreed and said that if I didn't' TRUST him with my child ALONE that he would not do the dental procedure that I have a much bigger issue around trust and that he can't do his job if I don't trust him alone because if my child were to get upset and the staff couldn't calm my child they would ask me to calm my child and if I couldn't they would RESTRAIN my child with a blanket!!!! (seriously) I respected him have a company policy for his own private business, but when you want to try to tell me that my parenting and not separating from my child at this young age while they receive treatment from a STRANGER they see maybe 2 times a year is not recommended and they need to learn to outgrow their separation anxiety -- this is common sense stranger danger and kids still learning how to be safe and speak up -- not to mention last I checked he was a dentist not a child psychologist! My recommendation -- FIND A NEW DENTIST. I can't find anything positive from a business that feels they need to be alone with your child to their job - I trust that a dentist can do his job, I don't trust that my child should be alone with anyone they don't actually know.