Dentist appointment

Going to the dentist with Charlie has been the most refreshing experience, until today. My memories of the dentist as a small child, who I am kidding an adult as well, have always been stressful. Not for Charlie.

He loves going to see Dr Grace. He was asking us to take him back to see her for a week after his last appointment, which included filling a cavity (and yes that meant drilling with no pain medicine). So this visit was for some soreness on his lower left side when we brushed and to fill the final cavity that wasn't very big. He was okay about going today after school, but it was right in the early part of his quiet time when he wants to relax and rest. Not great timing, but he loved it so much before that this should be fine. Uh no!

We are in the waiting room and he is wondering why they are not calling his name. So we wait a little more. He reads a little more with TT and then it is our turn. We go in, all good, get settled in and start chatting with Dr Grace. First thing is a check on the sore area in his mouth. Nothing there. Looks good. Looks like he might be getting his 6 year old molar in on that side.

Then on to the cavity filling. Step one, rinse the tooth. Okay, no problem, wait problem. The hygienist pulls out this man size suction straw to gather the water and saliva. This immediately causes Charlie to choke, cough and then cry. The crying was something he did not want to do in frontof anyone but it upset him so much he did which made things worse.

So, Dr. Grace manages to get Charlie to think the drilling or as she calls it the tickle tool is fun and off we go again. We are counting this time and Charlie is loving that. The drilling, the hard part, is a breeze. Now it is time to shampoo, dry and use the flash light on the tooth. Out comes that man size suction straw again! This is not good. Charlie gets very upset, crying, coughing, moving around in his seat. By this point, I am next to tears in seeing my child begging to go home and get away from all of this. Plus the memories of having 6 cavities filled at about his age is as clear in my mind as if I were the one sitting in that chair.

We take a break, but have to finish because the tooth is now raw and has to be filled. Back comes Dr Grace and Charlie is not at all agreeable about doing this. He wants me to do the work on him. Yeah, no. We finally get an okay to try again only because he is threaten with Mummy having to leave the room. That suction straw comes out, and I finally realize it is the main problem. They change it to the smaller one. Charlie is struggling and very upset. We are done! He is happy and wants his 2 cars he was promised. He is not going anywhere without me though. In the waiting room is TT who had the joy of listening to the agony of Charlie and knew I wasn't likely doing much better.

Out to the car we go and off to Target for one prize for the brave boy. I needed the prize, but having Charlie back to himself and happy was trophy enough for me.

Hours later, it is time to brush our teeth before bed. I could see him weighing in his mind if I play upset and don't want to brush will I get away with it? No, okay plan B, Mommy lets play dentist!
Eileen