We actually had the opposite experience—tried a dentist highly recommended by local parents, but it just didn't click with our kid. Ended up going back to one our pediatrician suggested, pricier but totally worth it for the stress-free visits... guess it really depends on the kid.
Funny how that works, isn't it? We had a similar situation—went with a dentist everyone raved about, but my daughter just wasn't feeling it. She'd get anxious days before the appointment, and the visits were exhausting for both of us. Then we randomly tried another dentist on a friend's casual mention, and boom... instant connection. Now she actually looks forward to going (mostly for the stickers and cool sunglasses, I think, but hey, I'll take it).
Did you find your pediatrician's recommendation was more about the dentist's personality or their office setup? Makes me wonder if it's less about reputation and more about chemistry. Kids pick up on vibes so quickly, don't they?
"Makes me wonder if it's less about reputation and more about chemistry. Kids pick up on vibes so quickly, don't they?"
Totally agree with this! When I was younger, my parents took me to a dentist who was supposedly "the best in town," but I dreaded every single visit. Later, when I needed braces, we randomly chose an orthodontist just because his office was close by... and surprisingly, he was amazing. He joked around, explained things clearly, and made me feel relaxed. Definitely think personality and connection matter way more than reputation or fancy setups.
I get what you're saying about chemistry, but I wouldn't totally discount reputation. We actually found our current dentist through a friend's recommendation—she was praised for being patient and gentle with kids. Turns out, she really is great. My daughter warmed up to her right away, even though she's usually shy around new people. So sometimes reputation can help narrow things down...though I agree it shouldn't be the only factor.
Totally agree, reputation helped us too. But we also checked online reviews after getting recommendations from friends. One dentist had great reviews but was always booked months out—wasn't practical for us. Ended up choosing another who had solid feedback and flexible scheduling. Turned out perfect, my son actually looks forward to visits now (mostly for the stickers, lol). Reputation's helpful, but logistics matter too.
