Dentist

N went to the dentist Thursday. This was his second visit to a dentist, but his first visit to our family dentist. His first visit was a year ago to an office specifically geared towards kids. And we'll just say that visit did not go well AT ALL! I don't know if it was because it was one year ago and N was young and possibly not ready to see the dentist. I don't know if it was because there were too many fun toys and tv's at the kid dentist. Or maybe because the nurse at the kid's dentist had worked with kids so long that her patience for their fears had worn off. Whatever it was, it did not work for us. There was a lot of screaming and crying and D had to hold N down through part of that visit. Thank goodness I was not there to see it all go down! After that experience D and I were both bracing ourselves for the worst for Thursday's visit.

We did our best to hide our concerns from N. I read "Dora Goes to the Dentist" to N to prepare him for the visit. We talked about all the neat things at the dentist. We went to the dentist as a family. D got his teeth cleaned first so N could watch. I thought that could either help or hurt the situation, but apparently it helped. It allowed N to warm up to the office, the hygenist and to the whole idea of getting his teeth done. When the time came for N's turn, he was excited! He got to pick out the an animal shaped cleaning tool. He chose the tiger. He chose chocolate "toothpaste" and he got to hold the water suction tool that the hygenist called "Mr Thirsty." When the hygenist started she pulled that mouth mask over her face and she said, " Why do you think I wear a mask while I clean your teeth?" N said, " So you don't get my allergies." And she said he was right and it was so N couldn't see her making silly faces and sticking her tongue out at him. N thought that was funny. The hygenist was wonderful! She took one step at a time. She explained everything she was doing and really interacted with N. It was great.

N didn't cry and he was 100% cooperative with the hygenist and the doctor. The doctor asked N how many teeth he thought were in his mouth. N said ten. The doctor counted and found twenty. N was a total rock star!! I'm so proud. At the end of the visit N got to pick a flashing tooth brush. It flashes a light for 60 seconds. The hygenist explained to N that he's supposed to brush his teeth until the light stops blinking. She said he should try brushing his teeth in the dark to watch the light flash.

L was very interested in all the happenings at the dentist. He's a very observant child. He will stand and watch something for a long time to try to figure out what's going on. He saw Daddy get his teeth done, then he watched N, then he thought it was his turn. He cried when it was time to leave 'cause he didn't get to have his teeth done. Hopefully that enthusiasm will be there when his turn comes.