Our Visit To The Dentist

Saturday the girls and I headed up to the dentist. As many of you probably know, we go to my uncle and cousins. They are all in practice together. We have to drive 45 minutes, but that's all I know. I've never gone to anyone else. Going to the dentist is just another family visit. Sometimes a painful visit, but a visit at that. I enjoy seeing everyone. Usually it's a family reunion in the waiting room, but not this visit.

For some reason I schedule my cleaning at the same time as the girls. I don't know how this happened or why I did that. Usually I stagger them. When the very nice office ladies called to remind me of our appointments I asked them about it. I wasn't worried about CK at all. She has always been great at the dentist and has never shed one tear. O, on the other hand was great her first check up, but cried the second time when the dental hygienist tried to do x-rays. O didn't like that and has been nervous ever since.

Six months ago, at our last appointment, the girls saw my cousin, Dr. N, for the first time. He had just finished school and was now officially a pediatric dentist. His office is beautiful! He is wonderful with kids. CK was fine....O cried. Dr. N was not able to really examine her too much, let alone clean her teeth. He was patient and calm and said we would just try again next time.

Yesterday was next time. I checked the girls and I in, filled out our health update forms and waited. Dr. N came out to talk to me before he saw the girls. Normal questions; any problems, how are they doing, etc. I told him about O sucking her thumb, but she is finally starting to not want anyone else to know she still sucks her thumb. (nice of me to post it on my blog) Dr. N was going to use this information to his advantage to try to get her to stop. (good luck)

I told Dr. N I was nervous about O getting upset and that I was going to be getting my teeth cleaned at the same time. He wasn't worried about it at all. He said they would take it slow, if they need to stop and wait, it's not a problem. He was so calm and matter of fact I wasn't nervous any longer. He took the girls in. They have a big TV in the cleaning room and the girls got to watch Cars while they were getting their teeth cleaned. (Lucky! Heck with the grown-up side....I'm going to Dr. N next time.)

As I waited my turn I thought I would peek in at the girls. O was just starting to get upset and cry. I didn't like that. Poor thing. My heart was telling me to rush in and hold my baby and tell her everything would be okay. My brain was telling me to leave her along. Dr. N was there, CK was there. She would be better if I didn't rush in. I was so strong and listened to my brain.

I had my cleaning and when I was almost finished the girls came in, finished with their cleaning the office ladies helped them find me. Big smiles, prizes, new tooth brushes, travel toothpaste, and brushing timers in hands. They were happy. Good sign.

I checked with Dr. N after I was finished. No cavities! Yeah! O did cry a little, but CK got up to hold her hand and tell her everything was okay. (what a great big sister!) Dr. N took it slow with O, taking breaks and talking with her. He was able to examine her mouth and clean her teeth. No fluoride treatment this time, but that is a huge improvement over the past several appointments. Yeah!

Both girls did great. I think O will be much better next time. BTW, love the brushing timer!