Friday, August 14, 2009

Kate's first visit to the dentist

I'll get back to the Great Summertime Catch-Up a little later, but for now I just had to chronicle this one for posterity.

Kate's pediatrician informed us that at age 3, they recommend children start visiting the dentist. Knowing Kate, I was pretty enthused for this one. Fortunately I happened to find a pediatric dentist in her network who is A.MAZ.ING. How did I do that? I was browsing the directory, and many of you know I choose our family's practitioners based on geographic proximity and pretty much nothing else. I've had plenty of luck with this method in the past, so why change? I found a dentist who was right down the street from us - I mean, I literally run past her office in the morning - and then discovered she specializes in pediatrics. JACKPOT! So I called to make an appointment, knowing it typically can take up to a month in advance to get in to see the dentist (at least in my experience). Well, much to my surprise (and slight panic), when I asked to make an appointment for my 3-year-old's first visit, the receptionist said, "Well, let's see... we actually have an opening at 3:00." Me: (bewildered pause) "....Today?" Receptionist: "Yes. Can you come in today?" Me: "Um.... sure." And there you have it. I suddenly had less than four hours to prepare my melodramatic daughter for her first visit to perhaps the most traumatic place on earth.

Now before you judge, I did not just throw her into this situation unprepared. We'd been preparing her to visit the dentist for months now, brushing her teeth religiously and talking about what the dentist will say when she sees those teeth, reading books like Little Critter "Just Going to the Dentist" to pump her up. She practically had the book memorized and was reciting bits and pieces of it to me throughout The Day. Well. Although reading books like this is normally touted as a brilliant way to prepare kids for a big event or milestone, this one had one little problem. Little Critter, in all his wisdom, thought it wise to prepare his readers for the possibility of getting a shot at the dentist. While that may have been good forethought for older readers, Kate was most certainly not going to get a shot at her first check-up, and how could I convince her otherwise when it was right there in print? It is also important to understand that Kate hates shots more than anything on the face of the planet. Probably more than I hate cilantro.

At any rate, she seemed to have a pretty good attitude about the upcoming dentist visit. I woke her early from her nap that afternoon and we hopped in the car and drove a block to the office. It was this cute, fresh, new little place with new toys and books and Toy Story playing from the flat screen TV. So far, so good. She seemed happy in the waiting room and chattered about how the dentist would look in her mouth, and I told her how she would count her teeth, and she even let me try by opening really wide and letting me count.
She looks happy enough, right? Even though the smile is fake...
Showing off those pearly whites
The moral support.

Then the dentist came out to meet us, and she was beautiful with a big warm smile, and I thought what a genius I was for finding a Princess Dentist for Kate. She invited us back, and then.... Kate took a look at that big looming chair...

and screamed
bloody
murder.

You'd have thought we were trying to throw her off a bridge, and apparently, we might as well have been. I don't need to tell you that she continued the hysterics for the duration of the appointment. But she did. The nurses even tried to explain that I could sit in the chair and she could sit in my lap, which I demonstrated with Brooklyn (who thought it was the coolest place she'd ever seen), but Kate wouldn't come within 5 feet of the Chair. Finally the dentist (who kept her cool and didn't seem fazed at all) suggested that she do a "lap exam", where I hold Kate (who will still be screaming) and sit knee-to-knee with the dentist while she holds her head in her lap. All she needed to do was COUNT her teeth. Which she did without actually even touching her. (But I think Kate thought she was going to be murdered.) She reported that she had no cavities and all her teeth had come in well. We chatted for a few minutes, loudly, over Kate's screams, and Kate was given a PRIZE (for what, I honestly don't know), and Brooklyn got one too for her excellent moral support. She gave Kate a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, and we went home. (*Time out for a little rave about the dentist*) These people were amazing. Through it all, the dentist and her attendants (are they nurses? Dental hygienists? I think that's the one) remained completely calm and collected, completely unperturbed by all the hysterical racket that was polluting their office, which is more than I can say for myself! As we left I muttered surreptitiously, "Do you just love your job?" to which she just laughed easily. Five stars to that dentist & her office staff! I will give you her information if you are looking for an awesome (and really NOT scary - I promise!) dentist for your little ones.

As soon as the door closed behind us, Kate's shrieks abruptly stopped and she reported cheerfully, "I was a good girl!" I was like "What? You think so??? Did you not just HEAR yourself?" Brooklyn, on the other hand, had a great time. The dentist even suggested that next time I make an appointment for Brooklyn a month or two before Kate comes back (apparently they like to see kids starting when their teeth come in! Who knew?) and then Kate can watch Brooklyn be the brave example of how to behave at the dentist, and hopefully it will calm her fears. I thought it was a little amusing because I'm sure that's a trick they use for older siblings, to calm the younger ones. Well, we have another 6 months to read (a slightly censored version of) Little Critter and his dental adventures!

Oh yes, and when we came home, Brooklyn kept making this face at me...
Finally I figured out that she was trying to imitate the fish toy that the dentist gave her!

In other news, Kate will be visiting the opthalmologist (I'm getting good at spelling that) in a week or two. To have her eyes checked. While sitting in a chair. I just. Can't. Wait.

7 sweet nothings:

Lis said...

OH man! I cant tell you how many times i just laughed out LOUD while I was reading that! Im sure you know this- but I bet theyre TOTALLY used to it! Lexi will be the exact same I can promise you that!!! Poor Kate! Poor YOU!!!! We miss you guys!!!

Lis said...

YOur header makes me want to go to California!!!! LOVE IT!

Charlotte Lundell said...

you hate cilantro? how is this possible?

welundell said...

I'm with Kate on the opthamologist, Eric requests that I make us an appointment and I refuse. We're young, our eyes are fine...right?

David said...

I love Brooklyn's fish face. She is such a cutie!

NatPalmer said...

I laughed through this whole post!!! I laughed because I can relate... I laughed because I can picture the whole scene perfectly... and then to top it off with Brooklyn's fish face! Love it.

Wendi said...

I like how sweet Kate thought she was an angel. Did you ever figure out the pink butterflies or something like that comment?