Parents!

[Gampopa]

OK, Yes I live in a very poor county. Yes there are few dentists who take Medi-Cal insurance and those that do are 45 min. away. Yes over the past year, your car did break down, you couldn't get off of work, you didn't feel like it this week. But now how do you feel when your 3rd grader has 14 of her teeth pulled?! Guess you'll just do another hit of what ever it is you're smoking, drinking shooting and have a Merry Christmas. And yes, CPS did visit you several times. Thanks for finally bringing your kid to the dentist.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I feel your frustration. I recently had to put some serious pressure on a parent of one of my special needs kids who had the worst tooth abscess I've ever seen. And believe me, working with my indigent population I've seen LOT of horrible teeth. This particular mother has not been responsive to other things in the past and we've worked with her to help her find resources. I think she just doesn't want to be bothered with this child. Well, I'm sure CPS feels differently about that.

[rdsxfnrn]

wow! that poor child............. dentures @ age 8? thank you for caring. :)

[sharpeimom]

my husband has done volunteer work for four years with two brothers who are now ten and eleven. the mom and little sister were in an accident and we ended up keeping the boys overnight a year ago. we borrowed pjs from the kids next door and when we handed each kid a new toothbrush, a paper cup and a tube of toothpaste, they both looked totally blank.

when we were kids, the school handed out toothbrushes and paste to all of us every month.

no more though. we made arrangements with a neighbor (an orthodontist) to check the three kids

teeth and he was so aghast that he has continued to provide care, including braces for one, pro bono.

[geocachingRN]

Pretty neat, Kathy! Here the parents thought their kids would be taken care of for the night, only they probably had no idea how well taken care of!