Dr. Brent A Sonday, DDS

Doesn’t it seem very fishy and worrisome that a dentist would not allow a parent in back with their child? The first time we were at the red cliff community clinic, dr Sonday acted very sympathetic and understanding of my child and her fear of dentist from a previous experience at another facility. He acted like he was going to be very accommodating and work with us. Next time we came in to do the work my daughter was scared, he made me leave the room and sit in the waiting room. Why did I leave her? I regret it very much. A little while later dr Sonday came to the waiting area and told me my daughter had to do the “wait it out method” and he’s just gonna wait til she’s ready. It could take up to a couple hours, he told me. 1/2 hour later he came out and said she did fine. After that day my daughter was very afraid of this dentist as well. She cried saying “I don’t want to go there, I don’t like when he’s mean to me when I get sad” “he was mean to me and yelling at me”. I didn’t want… to totally believe my daughter as he previously gave me the impression he was going to be patient with her. So on our way to her next appointment when she was again scared to go to this dentist again, I told her I would stay in the room with her this time. We got there and the women assisting that day took care of most of the appointment and I sat in with my daughter and she did very well having me in there for comfort. Toward the end of the visit dr Sonday came into the room and was poking around in her mouth and daughter said a little “ow” in a soft tone with her mouth wide open. Dr Sonday snapped back, “knock it off, I didn’t even do anything”. That second I realized my daughter was not lying about this man being mean and yelling at her. He left the room and came right back in and told me I needed to leave and go wait for her and it would only be 2 more minutes. I told him I wanted to stay since my daughter seemed to be more comfortable with me in the room. He insisted I leave and that from now on I am not allowed back with my child anymore. His assistant kept working on my child and I left the room and my daughter came out just a couple minutes later. I feel ashamed that I left and that I felt intimidated by this man. Today Shay had another appointment. I dreaded bringing her. I didn’t want to go back but I thought just maybe we could get her work finished up and we’d power through it but I would not leave my child this time no matter what. I had my husband call the clinic this morning to make sure that when I get there they would allow me to sit in with her. Dr Sonday assistant answered and told my husband there should not be a problem with staying in the room, they usually only ask parents to leave during filling. (But why?? A parent should be able to stay with their child no matter what!!) anyways, I live an hour away so I didn’t want to make the drive in the snow storm if I couldn’t stay in the room with her. We made the drive. We talked on the way there that yes I will stay with you and if she got scared it would be ok because I’d be right there and told her but just let him replace the spacers and we shouldn’t have to come back. Well we got there and Dr Sonday comes in first thing and says I need to leave the room. I told him I will not leave without her. And he proceeded to tell me I cannot be in there with her and I need to find a new dentist then. His assistant walked me out apologizing. This was the same assistant that was assisting him the day I sat in the waiting room while my daughter was being tormented. She seemed like a nice lady but why is she working for this jerk? Why is she letting this happen? And why is Dr Sonday still practicing? There is no way this is ok. This cannot go on. I feel so ashamed that I felt intimidated by this man and left the room each time he chased me out leaving my child behind closed doors with this man.