The Dentist

Ahhh what a week it was. Since our insurance runs out the end of this month, I got myself an appt for a dental cleaning. I went in on Tuesday and got them all polished up and there was a small pit in the back of one of my teeth. A tooth that as a child I fell and knocked it clear up into my nose (nice thought, huh?) Anyway, it eventually came back down and was missing a little piece. So I got it capped to match the rest. So, this tiny pit they decided should be filled to prevent the possibility of a cavity or anymore deterioration. Thankfully, they could get me in on Thursday.

Thursday comes and I go in for my appt. This procedure is so simple and fast...no pain at all. Dentistry sure has come a long way. So now my teeth are all wonderful again and I leave thinking it will be another 6 months before I have to go back....WRONG!

Last night, Lauren woke up every 2 hours crying that her teeth hurt. She has never had a problem with teething in the past, or very slight issues. Being she is almost 3, I thought all her teeth should be in so that shouldn't be the issue. She had no fever, so we can rule out ear infection. The poor child couldn't eat without tears! No liquids, no soft foods...nothing!

So this morning, after little sleep on both our ends, I called the dentist to see what they thought. I know they suggest that you start bringing kids in to the dentist around age 3. So, what the heck, might as well do this and see what the problem is. So we arrive at the dentist about 10:30. I fill out all the neccessary paperwork. Jas was prepping Lauren, telling her she would need to open her mouth really wide and the dentist would look inside. He might touch her teeth with his fingers or a little tool. We assured her this is not scary or painful. At the same time we were preparing for the worst...SCREAMING....KICKING...MAJOR MELTDOWN. I mean, we have a crabby, tired, hungry, irritable, in pain, nearly 3 year old here.

So the hygenist calls us back and I take Lauren's hand and we walk back. She is looking around wide-eyed with curiosity. We get to the room and the hygenist tells Lauren she can get up in the big girl chair. I was waiting for her to cling to me with fright, but she scurried up into the chair and got comfy. Our dentist has TV's in every room...AWESOME! So they put on some cartoons, which Lauren thought was great. I kneeled next to the chair and held her hand when the dentist came in. He was very sweet with her and showed her how the chair worked....gave her a ride up and down and back and forth. They put the little "bib" on her and then it was time. The dentist asked if she could open her mouth REALLY wide so he could see her pretty teeth. Jas and I both braced ourselves for what was to come (I hear all the horror stories from parents). Lauren proceeded to open her mouth nice and wide and let Dr Howe look around. She did whimper a little when he touched her back molar. I was amazed at how well she did, as was the doctor. I almost wanted to cry....what a big girl she was. So brave and calm. Not sure if I am that calm when I go to the dentist. And then it was over and Lauren went with the hygenist to get a special toy for being such a good patient (she chose a bouncy ball with stars in it) Thankfully, her teeth look great. It is her molars...they are just about through, but one of them is still irritating the gums and that is causing her pain. The downside, not much we can do until it pokes all the way through. So I hope this damn tooth pokes through already and stops causing my baby, I mean big girl, so much grief.

And that my friends was Lauren's first official trip to the dentist. I can proudly say, it wasn't so bad. Now when we go for a cleaning within the next year....that could be a whole new story.