Pediatric dentist's credo:
'Don't surprise, don't lie'

Reproduced with permission from the Roxbury Register.

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By Jean M. Stevens
Staff Writer

HACKETTSTOWN - "Don't surprise children and don't lie to them."

That's the advice for parents taking children to the dentist, offered by Dr. Edward M. Sonnenberg of Rockaway, who practices pediatric dentistry.

He is also Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the Handicap Programs at the New Jersey College of Medicine and Densistry.

"It's important to build up a trusting relationship with a child," said Dr. Sonnenberg.

"If a parent isn't sure what will happen at a dentist's office, tell the child you don't know. Tell the child that his teeth will be examined and pictures (X-rays) will be taken."

There's a friendly, relaxed atmosphere in Dr. Sonnenberg's office. Toys, children's books and magazines are available in the waiting room. Treatment rooms are decorated with colored mobiles and posters of baseball stars and characters from "Star Trek."

Equipment is referred to in descriptive language that children can understand. A needle is a "straw." An air syringe is a "wind and water machine." A high-speed drill is a "tooth whistle." A suction device is "Mr. Thirsty."

"Children are given mirrors to hold so they can watch what's going on," said the 31-year-old dentist. "When they're directly involved, they're not so resistant. I play with the kids and we have fun. When I clean their teeth, sometimes I let them clean mine."

Parental anxiety is occasionally difficult to deal with, Dr. Sonnenberg said. "I allow parents to remain in the room if a child behaves well during treatment. However, if the child behaves poorly, I may ask the parent to leave. This is to enable the child to pay primary attention to me and my assistant."

The dentist says he "practically never" has any trouble with his young patients.

"I've only been bitten twice," he laughed, "If I get bitten, I'll bite back -- on the nose."

One of approximately 80 pediatric dentists in New Jersey, Dr. Sonnenberg is an advocate of preventative dentistry.

"I do comprehensive dental care for children, including fillings, some orthodontics and extractions," he said. "But the primary area of concentration is prevention -- brushing, flouride treatments and fissure sealants that prevent decay in permanent molars and pre-molars."

"I like children to come in at 1 year of age for a visit to show the parent how to brush and clean the teeth. Usually, dental cleanings and flouride treatment should begin at 2 1/2."

Dr. Sonnenberg said he has treated children as young as 14 months old.

These have been children with "milk bottle decay," he explained. "Any liquids, except water or sugar-free drinks, have sugar that can cause decay. When a baby is put to bed with a bottle," he said, "the liquid in it can destroy teeth rapidly. This is probably the most difficult type of circumstance for me to deal with -- an extremely young child with no communication. This child must often be hospitalized for treatment."

The son of a dentist, Dr. Sonnenberg refuses to treat his own two daughters, 7-year-old Nicole and 3-year-old Kirsten.

"Even though they have not had a cavity yet, I don't even examine their mouths," he said. "My memories of my father treating me are bad. So, its no surprise that I don't want to treat my children."

Dr. Sonnenberg graduated from New York University and received his dental degree from Columbia. He served an internship at Connecticut Valley Hospital.

Dr. Sonnenberg said he decided to specialize in pediatric dentistry during his internship "because of the many rewarding experiences I had treating children. My first daughter was borh the year I interned and that, I'm sure, stimulated my interest in children."