Well,
I guess it was my turn to send when I wasn't ready!

To finish my thought, (I forgot where I was anyway!)...
When my oldest son first went to the dentist, I insisted on going in with
him.  He was, and still is, a very sensitive child, easily frightened and
could become hystericaal in a matter of seconds.  The dentist was kind and
let me stay, though they told me the same thing everyone else has been told
about kids needing to be w/out mom and dad.  Chris survived dentist
appointments until he was 5yrs, then he figured out what was really going on.
 He still panics even though all he has done are simple cleanings!  But,
guess what.  Even at 10 yrs old, I still go in with him.  And he does much
better.  I'd rather have him express his fears than hold them in and be
terrified.  I acknowledge his fears, (he doesn't know how terrified I am to
go to the dentist!  Horrid experiences as a child did me in long ago!) and I
think it helps him to stay more in control as he gets older.  When our
youngest starts going to the dentist, I will insist on being with him as
well.  I think it is cruel to demand that a child face an unknown invasive
situation with people s/he has never seen before.  I think that many dentists
have the childs best interests in mind, but maybe they do not realize that a
child who is "good" w/out mommy and daddy there may very likely be terrified
out of his/her mind.  Scared stiff, so to speak.  Many thanks to those
dentists who welcome parents, and many pats on the backs to those parents who
insist on staying with their kids!
Jay
(She who gets hysterical and needs drugs to relax just to have a tooth
filled!)