“But I want to go to the dentist!” That is a phrase you wouldn’t expect to hear from anyone really, but it is what I heard when I dropped off my oldest at her baby sitter the day of her first dentist visit. After trying to explain that she had to eat breakfast and then lunch, then we would go to the dentist, I still left a teary-eyed little girl at the door.
We started to prepare her for the visit a few days earlier. Not knowing how best to explain what the dentist is, we called her the teeth doctor who wanted to see her smile. My oldest had no fear, more excitement to visit a new place with new experiences. I was full of questions about how the visit would go, what all would occur and would my little one behave or perform a spectacular fit for the building.
After picking her up, she informed me that she brushed her teeth and was ready to see the dentist. We arrived and after checking in, she found her way to the playroom full of toys with “Thomas the Train” on the television. When her name was called and we made our way to the room, that is when some nerves set it. My brave little girl clinched my leg and was happy to sit on my lap during the exam.
After sitting down, she had to smile for a special camera with a close-up on her teeth. Moments later when it popped up on the “little hanging TV” she was excited to see herself and her smile big on the screen.
She got to pick out the toothbrush of her choice, which for the newest princess fan was of course the Monster, Inc. green toothbrush. The hygienist then told her she had some tasty pink toothpaste to help find the “sugar bugs” that might be on her teeth. She thought that was pretty fun, but was nothing compared to getting water squirted and sucked out of her mouth. She watched with delight as she “kissed” the tube as water came streaming out without her doing anything.
Mom also learned something new at the dentist. For the past few months, my little miss has been getting a spot on her tooth that I just attributed to getting dirty and needing to go to the dentist. I found out that it was actually a birthmark on her tooth, and unless for vanity reasons, the dentist said it was fine as it is. Who knew teeth have birthmarks?
After a good cleaning and taking count to make sure all teeth were accounted for, she was hoping off the chair with a sparkly smile pasted on her mouth. As a treat, the little ones get to pick out a prize from the treasure chest as they leave. After much contemplation, she decided on funny teeth and a sucker (at the dentist, I know). Very excited but sad to leave, her first dentist experience was successful and a sigh of relief for mom.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534
or jpierson@newtondailynews.com