Well, holy hell, Jane had her first dentist appointment today. And it was awful. Purely awful.
It was at a wonderful pediatric dentist's office. The place was great - toys, books, kid-friendly art, friendly staff - really perfect. The dentist came out to talk to us before we went into exam room - he was a very friendly older man who talked to me about how his whole goal is to make sure Jane doesn't ever get cavities - he said 99% of dentist offices have the goal of fixing teeth, and his is to make sure his patients' teeth don't need fixing - and Jane was smiling at him and all was well.
Until we went into the exam room.
Jane FREAKED. THE. EFF. OUT. He let her sit on my lap but every time he went for her mouth she screamed. And cried. And thrashed. I got kicked in the mouth at one point. He took her aside to talk to her a bunch of times. He had me leave the room for a while. He told her "kids who go there don't get to act like this." I wasn't upset that he was reprimanding her - he told me that kids to this to gain control, and frankly, Jane needs reprimanding at times - but for whatever reason, this is when I got weepy. Oh yes, they had to hand me tissues. I felt like such a loser. But Jane was gasping for breath because she was crying so hard and I felt like such a failure for not preparing her enough even though I really, really tried - so he was able to count her teeth and brush a bit, but let us go before the cleaning because he didn't want her to be terrified to come back.
Too late, I think. Even though she got a balloon, a new toothbrush and a purple ring, she told me when we left, "I don't want to be friends with him."
I asked them if she was the worst patient ever. They said no. I tried to do my usual thing - make jokes about the situation - by offering to bring Advil next time we came. But I felt so awful after. It was the worst appointment I've ever had with her, including the time they had to cut the weird-looking mole off her hand when she was one.
I think we'll BOTH need Valium when she goes back in three months.
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3 comments:
"she told me when we left, "I don't want to be friends with him."
Out of the mouths of babes!
Honestly A? If that pediatric dentist doesn't realize when he has to go super-sloooooow (maybe even 2 or 3 visits for the initial)to accomdate a fearful child, then he might not be the best fit for J.
I don't know why I feel like I can offer my opinion when you didn't ask for it, but I'm ballsy like that. :0
i too would like to offer my unsolicited opinion: don't ever take her back to the dentist. then in 10 or so years when her teeth are malformed, decaying, and all but gone, you can remind her of the fact that she made you cry on this day.
seriously, why do people even have kids? they seem more trouble than they are worth. at the very least, she is on my list for making you cry. ask beth what happens to people who are on my list.
Sometimes, kids do get so scared every time they have a dental appointment because they always thought that dentists are bad people. And as parents, we must always ensure our kids that going to their dentist is necessary important in order for them to have a beautiful smile. Before, my son hated going to the dentist until one time, the dentists (Goose Creek area) did a painless procedure on him and because of that, he now loves his dentist.
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