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‘We heard somebody screaming’: Child put in restraints at dentist office

CARROLL COUNTY, GA —  A family near Atlanta is upset at their family dentist after finding their five-year-old was restrained. James Crow says his daughte...
ChildRestrained

CARROLL COUNTY, GA —  A family near Atlanta is upset at their family dentist after finding their five-year-old was restrained.

James Crow says his daughter Elizabeth was put in what’s called a papoose board at a Smiles-R-Us in Carrollton.

Evelyn Crow, the girl’s Grandmother said, “We was sitting out in the waiting room and all of a sudden .. we heard somebody screaming.”

James and his mother say they weren’t allowed into the exam room. But after his daughter started screaming, while she was having a tooth pulled, he went back to find her restrained.

“I couldn’t see my kid in the body bag just strapped down .. to bed I couldn’t handle it.” said James.

Evelyn said, “It was awful to see her tied down like that. It hurt me.”

When a reporter at WSB-TV contacted the office, they were told that parents sign consent forms before they use the restraint, but the Crows say they don’t remember being notified.

The devices are legal in Georgia, but the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry warns the restrain devices, “may lead to potential serious consequences, such as physical or psychological harm,”

Evelyn says, “I think they should make a law for dentists not to restrain children like that.”

The dentist in this case has no listed disciplinary actions against her, and has not commented on this incident.

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