Orthodontist appt requirements

[Toiletrollbuyer]

Hi all,
DD11 has an orthodontist appt in a weeks time, when the surgery made the appt Over the phone they specified that she would have to go into the surgery on her own, I wouldn’t be allowed in with her. I’m a bit about this. She’s only 11, although she’s pretty mature for her age. It’s a medical appt though and I’d like to be there to make sure she’s ok.

Am I being unreasonable asking to go in with her? I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent and she does need the appt... but is just seems a bit odd having an 11 year old going into a medical appt on their own.

Our orthodontist is letting an adult accompany children.

I assume you are allowed in the waiting room and they will talk to you afterwards about treatment?

Guidelines link below - from the Royal College of Surgeons, recommends no more than one adult accompanying - contact your dentist.

class="underline">Recommendations%20for%20Paediatric%20DentistryJune2020.pdf Covid Paediatric Dentistry guidelines

section 12

@EveryPlanetHasAYorkshire no apparently not... we aren’t allowed in the building at all. I was going to call them Monday and ask to be allowed in but wanted to ask Mumsnet if I was being neurotic before I did that

I said I'd be coming in as "12 year olds dont fo in for medical treatment alone".

I was expected to wait in the car.

They were reluctant but ok.

I thing they're leaving themselves open for problems doing this.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay that’s useful, thanks.

In that case it's odd. Surely you need to be there in some capacity to discuss any treatment or problems?

My daughters orthodontist said the same but she refused to go in on her own(she’s 14) and it was no problem for me to go in. In fact once inside, there were lots of other parents.

To be clear I did go in.

Our orthodontist fully expected me to accompany DS (12) the whole time apart from when they were doing X rays. Definitely worth questioning.

My two always went in for their appointments on their own and I waited in the waiting room. It was fine. Waiting outside is no different.

@GabriellaMontez I’m ok with her going in I think, but she’s a bit anxious about it. She’s quite shy - just going into secondary school. I know she has to grow up at some point but I wouldn’t have been comfortable age 11 with a stranger poking around without my mum there.

My 10 year old had me accompanying his. No questions. It said on letter if possible come alone

DP was horrified when I told him, which has prompted this thread 😂

Tha is for the link that's useful. I can see this causing problems in future.

As it happened it was really good that I went in. There were things that needed to be discussed.

That's a bit strange. DS (13) goes in on his own but he already has his brace and had done all the initial appts and a couple of adjustments appts so it wasn't a big deal. An 11 year old who hasn't been before should have an adult with them.

Thanks all, I think I’ll just go with whatever DD feels comfortable with. I’ll have a chat with them on the phone and just ask if I can come in to the waiting room if she needs me to.

Dd(12) went in on her own, but she’s had braces for over a year and she knows the people and the place. When discussion was needed they called me on my mobile (I was waiting outside) and asked me to come in. I wouldn’t have sent her in by herself for a first appointment or for anything where a decision needed to be made.

So nearly 70% of people think I’m being unreasonable questioning it, but all commenting think I’m not... I’d be interested to hear from any one of the majority who think I am being unreasonable?

I think for a first appt accompanying is best - I can see why for other appts its not necessary. I think there is a safeguarding issue for younger kids though (say under 14) not that there isn't one 14 to 18 but it might be deemed to be a lesser risk as they can speak up and defend themselves better

I took 3 DC in last week, which the receptionist found quite disturbing but they all had an appointment I went in with them because the orthodontist always wants to talk about how things are going.

I went in alone at 13 and my dad stayed in the car smoking and probably napping.

Ds is 15 and some way through his treatment so he just goes in the building alone, before Covid he would go in the treatment room alone and the adult would wait in the waiting room but our orthodontist are allowing an adult in if it would benefit the child but I think you have to go through the hand gelling, temp taking ritual!

I don't know if your being unreasonable or not but if your daughter would feel more comfortable with you there I would insist, is this her first appointment? I would want to be there for a first appointment.

I went in for DD2’s initial appt a month ago but for her x-rays this week they told me to wait in the car.

When DD1 went just after lockdown to have wires changed I wasn’t allowed in then either.