Help! Dental nightmare with scared 5 year-old

[tonton]

I recently took dd (5 and not brave by any standards) to the dentist. The dentist said she urgently needed one maybe 2 fillings but that she would refer her to a clinic where they did sedation, because dd was so scared. Well we went today and it was awful. The anaethsatist (sp?) terrified her and basically they failed to get the iv drip in (with sedative) and so no treatment. They said she would have to go to the hospital and be 'gassed'. Problem is she is now even more scared!
Any tips? Any fab london dentists for scared kids? I'll pay anything!

Your poor dd. I can't suggest a dentist, sorry, but some advertise as being especially good with nervous patients and/or children.

Gosh, poor you and dd, that sounds like a nightmare. Ds1's 1st two trips to the dentist were terrible, he was terrified by the lights, instruments you name it. I have just taken him again to a new dentist in Balham (is that anywhere near you?) who was lovely, woman dentist v child friendly and she did things like letting him move the chair up and down, she had huge silly dark glasses for him to wear against the light and she said things like "I'm going to count your teeth" rather than "look at" or "examine". Worked a treat and ds2 (5) was totally fine. I don't know what would be the case if she had to do a filling - don't know what the approach would be for sedation, but definitely a kind and softly approach has worked for us.

Wilbur I live in Balham! The first dentist we went to was the one on chestnut grove and they referred us to the Whitewater clinic in Tooting where she went today (disastrously!). Where did you go?

We go here
www.dentalclinique.co.uk/

No idea what they are like for kiddies as mine is only a year old
We see Dr Catherine but the chap seems v friendly too

www.dentalclinique.co.uk/

tonton - only just seen this. Same as Blonde, our new dentist is Dr Katherine at Dental Clinique on Balham High Rd. Hope this helps. Shame about the Chestnut Grove one - I had that recommended to me as well. Where in Balham are you?