*Update November 2023 and my mom gives me a copy of a local magazine with the "Best Of" in Kansas City. Jenkins is not with LeBlanc anymore but LeBlanc is apparently the best of dentists in the city. I disagree. Overpriced services, too many flashy extras, no humility, and the filling fell out anyway.
If you live in South Overland Park in the great state of Kansas, get ready to be offended.
So I took Callie to this Kansas City children's dentist because they could get her in sooner for her filling. The first appointment found us waiting for 40 minutes so she could be seen for about 2 minutes. The waiting room had a big, flat-screen TV on the wall playing Despereaux. There were video game stations. There was a huge aquarium. Then there was the Starbuck’s brew-by-the-cup station for the parents.
After her “appointment,” Callie got a token to put in the toy machine. Then she got a balloon. And stickers. And each of my kids got a popsicle because the ice cream machine was down.
They sneak the cost of all this crap into the cost of nitrous oxide, apparently, because we had to come up with $200 for that alone. I like Karen’s idea of having your kid get comfy with a dentist so there isn’t a need for nitrous or Baby Valium (recently heard a report that nitrous oxide is contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, as well), and I will probably try that in the future.
Here’s where I will offend you, Ladies of South Overland Park (for those of you from out-of-town, South OP is akin to Beverly Hills):
The day of her actual visit Aron took off work and we ALL went to the dentist. Why not, when there’s a playland there AND Starbuck’s for us? Every mother who came through the door was super-skinny and totally put-together. Their kids were all immaculate. The women all had these high-pitched Valley Girl voices. And felt like they were sacrificing their lives by not having their NANNY bring their kid to the dentist (yes, I got that from an actual conversation). I felt like I was in an episode of “90210: The Mommy Years.”
The dentist was 45 minutes late, and Callie hadn’t been allowed to eat breakfast since they’d be using the nitrous oxide. Being Pregnant Me right now, I chewed him out really good and he acted offended that I would dare to call him out on being so dang late.
Growing up, I was lucky to get a toothbrush and floss at my family dentist’s office. I’m thinking of taking my kids to MY dentist so they don’t come to expect a Bentley every time they do something necessary like get their teeth cleaned or get a Pap Smear.
Update: then the filling fell out. We didn't go back. Not our kind of place.
Our dentist is in Prairie Village and we all see the same guy. The kids love him and when they've had cavities there's no need for any meds. He gives them headphones and has a tv positioned so they can watch it...yes they have kid friendly channels. They rarely run behind, maybe 10-15 minutes is the most I've ever had to wait. There's nothing pretencious about his office and you won't feel out of place in baggy sweats, at least I don't. His name is John Faerber if you're looking for someone else. And bonus points none of the staff looks like a pixie stick!
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with stuck up skinny people who run on coffee and judgement?
ReplyDeleteBetch.
Did you watch the video yet?
Kerrie - my dentist is in North OP 83rd and Lamar.... He hasn't updated his office since I went there as a kid. Maybe that is why I like him ;)
ReplyDeleteKerrie, would you ever travel overseas to save money on dental treatments? This survey takes 1 minute - http://tiny.cc/bfAMV
ReplyDeleteI have to take my kids to the dentist tomorrow. I just got rid of my kids regular doctor because he made us wait an hour in the waiting room and almost another hour in the back room before we even saw him. To top it off, his English was so bad I couldn't understand half of what he was saying.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know I always enjoy reading your blog and left a award for you over at my blog.
ReplyDelete*sobs* you don't love me because I moved to south OP! And I'm not even skinny... no comments on the coffee.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you were in south op, why didn't you drop me a line??? Right because you don't looooove meeeeee.
;P
When you see all of those "Perfect" OP families, just think of how miserable they are, and how their kids will write tell-all books about them being horrible parents when they are older and continuing the cycle of "perfect" bad parents.
ReplyDeleteWe go through and get out of OP as fast as humanly possible. I don't like the idea of all the yuppie rubbing off on us.
Sorry, you don't know me, but I adore your blog! :) And, I would have chewed out the dentist too. My orthodontist is in OP and I've chewed him out more than once...