The Dentist Office

Grace had a dentist appointment today. Grant had one last Thursday, and I have one tomorrow. All of a sudden, they had some openings, so we didn't have to all wait until January to get in ( by then it would be 5 months PAST our 6 months due date). I never understand how their calendar gets soo booked out.

Anyway, it was Grace's turn. She had a 5pm appointment, so she was one of the last ones in the office. We got there in time, had her X-Rays done, had some more X-Rays done once we got her in the chair, and finally got her teeth cleaned. It was relatively fast, and I had asked if she had any tartar because Grant did last week and we didn't brush her teeth before showing up. All went well, until the dentist came in to check things out.

Turns out she has 2 cavities. I wasn't sure that she was completely following the conversation, since the dentist was talking to me and the Hygenist. But, I guess when you're nosy, you pick up on indirect adult conversations.

As we get out to the lobby, to book her follow up appointment, she starts to cry and generally fall apart. I tell her that they are not taking care of the cavities today, so there really is no reason to cry. ( I'm not the most compassionate mother at times).

She continues to look worried, goes to the bathroom AGAIN and then we finally get on the elevator and go to the car. As we are making our way, she starts to voice her concerns- which I'm happy she feels she can, they are kind of funny in a way ( although I didn't laugh- I promise)

1. Worry about drilling- this was followed by lots of questions about feeling the drill, if you can feel the drilling, if they give you a shot to make it so you don't feel it ( I lied here, because her appointment isn't until December at this point, and I don't want her stressing for 2 months). I told her they put on a topical ( which I guess they could, but she'll probably get the shot).

2. Concern over having cavities at all- how did she get them, what causes them, why she now needs a Sonicare toothbrush.. and concern that she now wants to brush her teeth at school after lunch ( on my Costa Rica trip last summer to the Special Ed School, I learned that they are BIG on teeth brushing after the kids eat or have snack. Every child does this atleast once a day at school- could we do this here too?)

3. Concern that her teacher won't let her brush her teeth... not sure why- but I assured her that we'd talk to Mrs. Halverson and see if she could quietly do this. She is also worried to tell her teacher that she has cavities! You would think she had some bizarre disease or rash. I never thought she'd get soo worked up over having cavities.

4. And Finally- " Mom will they use silver or gold to fill my cavitity?""Because I dont' want that, people can see that and it makes your mouth look funny". So in the end, Vanity takes a place in her thoughts.

When we pick up Grant, she says to him, "Grant, Sissy has some bad news- I have 2 cavities". Again, the drama continues.