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Email a FriendStill waiting, for my almost-3-year-old. We have the nicest dentist, but I really don’t think she’s ready yet. (And I don’t think we’re quite ready for a bill for just chatting with him yet, either…)
Dental Adventure
How did your kids' first visits go?
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Health on Thursday, March 11, 2010 11:13 PM
Today was a big day for our three-year-old: her very first dentist appointment.
I was not expecting it to go well. That is putting it mildly. Camilla is cautious and does not like to try new things. I’ve seen her upset to the point of throwing up at the prospect of having her hair washed. By her own mother. In her own home.
She was at the dentist with my husband and me for our last cleaning six months ago, and she refused to consider even watching us get our own teeth cleaned. I had reservations about scheduling an appointment for Camilla even at her current age of three-and-a-half, but the dentist promised they wouldn’t push her and that if it didn’t happen, we’d just wait another six months and try again. So we put it on the calendar. March 11th.
Camilla woke up grumpy this morning and didn’t want to go anywhere, let alone somewhere where they might poke at her teeth. (We’d read every book on “going to the dentist” that we could find in the library’s children’s section, so she had an idea what was coming.) Eventually we got her out the door with a mixture of firmness and patient coaxing, and she cheered when she realized she was going on a solo outing with Mama and Daddy, a rare treat.
When we got to the dentist’s office: a moment of hesitation, and then - miraculously - Camilla was willing to watch us get our teeth cleaned. It got better from there. Parts of the process were apparently hilarious to her, as well. Inexplicably, she squealed with delight every time the dentist stuck the small mirror in Bryan’s or my mouth.
We talked about it, and she was excited to get her teeth shined so that she would look pretty. The dentist, a kindly maternal woman, offered Camilla a princess toothbrush. She’d soon have newly cleaned “princess teeth” to match! She was calm and happy about the prospect.
A few minutes later, seated on my lap, wearing the bib and holding an extra one of the little mirrors in her own hand, she was less certain. The friendly tooth-doctor let us all feel the vibrating tip of the tooth-polishing brush against our fingers. It felt much like the spin-brush Camilla uses at home. But still, at the prospect of having the dentist clean her teeth, she burrowed her face into my chest. For a moment I was sure that Camilla would be walking out of there without having baring her pearly whites for even a moment in that chair.
But the dentist - bless her heart - was persistent without being pushy, and my baby girl gathered her courage and opened her lips a tiny bit, just enough for the tip of the tooth-polisher to touch her front teeth. From that point, we were golden. She realized that it didn’t hurt and that the polishing paste tasted good, and she willingly opened her mouth more widely to get her back teeth cleaned, too.
For me, as mother and person in charge of dental hygiene, the best moment was when that little mirror went inside Camilla’s mouth, and the dentist scanned her teeth, smiled at me, and said, “Everything looks good.”
My little girl went to the dentist! Successfully! From where I stand, things do look very good.
When did your kids first go to the dentist? And how did it work out?
Comments
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Posted by Sarah in Ottawa on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 9:18 AM (EDT):
Teddy hasn’t gone to the dentist yet (except in utero!), and we’re going to wait another year or so (at least). A couple weeks ago, he cried while getting his haircut (he was scared by the buzzing of the clippers, though the scissors didn’t phase him) so we’re in no rush to polish his 9 teeth!
I am so glad to hear that Camilla did well. And I have found (with others’ children) that confidence begets confidence. When she’s hesitant in future, a reminder about her bravery in THIS new setting might help her be braver than usual!
Posted by Carolyn A on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 9:32 AM (EDT):
I’ve never had anyone to watch my kids when I went to the dentist or hairdresser, so they’ve always had to come along to Mommy’s appointments and watch. I guess the advantage is when their turn comes there is no hesitation. In fact, when we visited a couple of orthodontists for my 6-year old a couple months ago, his then almost-2-year old sister insisted on getting her turn in the chair, too! She’s also been sitting in the hairdresser’s seat for several months although she just had her first trim this month. Loves it.
Posted by Delores on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 9:44 AM (EDT):
I just recently took my 2 1/2 yo girl. She did awesome! I was so impressed. Especially because my 8 yo girl squirms, cries, flinches, holds my hands, and shakes in the dentist’s chair. Perhaps I should have started her at 2 1/2 as well. Good job, Arwen!
All three of mine started going to the dentist between 12 and eighteen months. At first they sat on my lap( holding some over sized dental instrument toy) as my teeth were cleaned and the hygienist interacted with them. By two, we were in their mouths with a mirror and all had been successfully cleaned, polished, and fluorided by thirty months. At three they were all on the every six month plan. Since we started so early, we never had any fear and all went into their six month appointments without a problem. They are now 19,16,& 13 and they have yet to have a cavidy. The oldest did have all four impacted wisdom teeth removed with only novicane(health conditions prevent anesthesia for this) and did great( again no fear) and my sixteen year old will have his four impacted wisdom teeth removed this summer the same way and it doesn’t seem to bother him one bit. IMO, taking them early, just to watch and get used to teh surroundings has paid off big time.
Posted by wisdomandpeace on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 10:04 AM (EDT):
To call my 6 year old “intense” is an understatement, so I wasn’t expecting her first visit to the dentist (when she was 3) to go well, either. But she surprised us, too! She sat on my lap in the dentist’s chair and with her little body cradled by Mommy’s, she was surprisingly calm and accommodating. We read a book about Dora the Explorer going to the dentist over and over in the weeks leading up to the appointment and I think it helps immensely when they know what to expect. So glad that Camilla’s experience was a good one! 
Posted by Karen on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 11:37 AM (EDT):
My 3 year old has been a despiser of all things remotely medical since she was a newborn. It was over two years before my pediatrician saw her when she didn’t give him the evil eye and scream her head off and not once in her life has he done anything toher remotely painful or even uncomfortable.
Her response (at not quite three) to observing her sibs get a cleaning at the dentist was ‘no not me next’. She was 3 1/2 at her first dental visit and it went fine. She was ready and we didn’t push it. I am sure it helped that due to 6 older sibs at the dentist/ortho she was very familiar with Miss Nancy and Dr. G ( a small, very non-threatening woman). She has been for her second visit and doesn’t mind at all.
Posted by Becky D. on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 1:21 PM (EDT):
We tried with my little girl when she turned 3 last fall. She didn’t seem worried about it and our dentist and staff are great but once she was in the chair she wouldn’t open her mouth. We finally got her to open her mouth enough for the dentist to have a quick look at her teeth by hanging her upside down and tickling her belly. They looked good so we’ll be trying again soon. I think she will be ready now. She’s been talking about opening her mouth for the dentist his pretty toothbrushes and his prize box.
Posted by Joan on Friday, Mar 12, 2010 6:50 PM (EDT):
Has anyone used a pediodontist? (A dentist specifically for children) They are great! My youngest had terrible teeth, and did really well with him. Dr. Allen had a special way with all the little ones. Every year one of the parents in my school gives a special presentation to the Kindergarten (She is a pediodontist) and they love her! Some of them have even been to her office. Sometimes a pediodontist is a better choice, especially when the child has a lot of dental work to be done.
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