FLORENCE, SC (WPDE) — Jessica Edwards was excited and looking forward to taking her son Noah to his first dentist appointment at Palmetto Pediatric Dentistry in Florence last week.
Her son has autism and she said the way they were treated was unforgettable.
“I cried, you know I was very upset,” Edwards said.
She said Noah had a very bad morning and with autism, Edwards hoped and prayed for a successful date.
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When he arrived, he started filling out paperwork at the front desk and Noah started throwing up.
She then informed the employees of Noah’s disability and, according to Edwards, they went to the back of the office and didn’t say a word.
Edwards said that moment alone broke her heart, and dealing with daily struggles trying to keep Noah calm, that encounter devastated her.
“I was scared, now I felt scared you know I got there and I was just… it was awful because I mean I know walking into an office like this you know it’s his first time I know I know what can happen. Will he have a meltdown today? You know I’m just praying that he does well and stays calm,” she explained.
When they returned, they told her their system was down and Noah couldn’t see.
Edwards said she feels it may have been a lie because she claimed she overheard an employee say they couldn’t work with him because he was “going overboard.”
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The dentist’s office encouraged Edwards to reschedule, but because she felt overwhelmed, she declined.
Feeling devastated, Edwards posted on Facebook about her experience and it received a lot of attention.
Her post read in part, “I just felt so out of place and didn’t feel welcome. I told them he was autistic and it can be a little tricky to work with and he has sensory issues with his mouth so he’s still on the bottle but they didn’t say anything.”
“I felt the need in my heart to do what I had to do and I did what I had to do, you know, and I talked about him and supported him like I always do on a normal day. Like I said, that day on the drive back home was miserable and I was crying all the way home,” she said.
Calls to Palmetto Pediatric Dentistry for comment were not returned.
A Facebook post from the dental office said:
It has come to our attention that an extremely dishonest post was made today about our Practice. After reading the entire video of the parent/patient visit, any legal action will be taken against the author of this post as we have evidence that this is a blatant and malicious untruth. The parent and patient were treated with utmost respect and patience. We have many patients with special needs and we believe that the parents of these children are heroes for the selfless dedication they are called upon to give every day!
Edwards said she will take legal action and is looking for a dentist that is a better fit for her son.
As of Tuesday, no one from the dental office has contacted Edwards about what happened.
