First Trip to the Dentist

Hannah and Owen's first trip to the dentist was long overdue.  We really had no excuse for not taking them considering their dentist is also their godmother and our good friend, Sarah.  Somehow though the time to make phone calls for things like routine appointments seems to escape me on me most days.  However, we did finally call and schedule their first appointment.  A few days before we starting talking about going to the dentist to see Mrs. Sarah and we also bought Little Critter Visits the Dentist to help get us prepared.  Our neighbors, Sarah and Hannah, also loaned us Elmo Goes to the Dentist which we also liked.  Everything went great on our way to the dentist.  There was no resistance getting in the car or going into the dental office.  We walked back to say hi to Mrs. Sarah and see Daddy getting his teeth cleaned.  Owen decided he'd rather wait in the waiting room and check out the toys than continue to watch Daddy or maybe that just put some extra space between him and the dental chair.  Everything was going good until one of the hygienists came in to say it was our turn and asked who wanted to go first.  Well, Owen graciously offered Hannah up as the first patient at which point Hannah started wailing and lay down on the floor in the waiting room...awesome!  Where was daddy?  Oh, he was still getting his teeth cleaned...awesome!  So I quickly scooped Hannah up, grabbed Owen's hand, and muttered something about deciding when we got to the room.  Since Owen was standing on the floor and not clinging to me for dear life I figured I could get him into the chair.  He bravely climbed in although he was shaking like a leaf and clutching his lovey pretty tight.  Mrs. Sarah (Dr. Dowdy) was awesome with Owen and showed him everything and had him unwrap the box of cleaned tools she would use.  His toothbrush looked like a zebra and he chose grape toothpaste.  Mrs. Sarah put sunglasses on him and gave him a plastic lizard to hold too.  He was ready to go.  They started with counting his teeth...there were 20.  Then Mrs. Sarah checked them (she said one was loose and the tooth fairy may visit soon), cleaned them, rinsed his mouth, and flossed!  He did great through it all and set a good example for Hannah.

Throughout Owen's cleaning Hannah gradually warmed up and sat in a chair to watch Owen.  She was all smiles until the hygienist said it was her turn to go to her room at which point she erupted into tears again.  I quickly realized there would be no prying her off of me to sit in the dental chair so into the chair I climbed. (This is the reason there is not a picture of Hannah's first trip the dentist.) Good thing Sarah and I have been friends since elementary school.  Hannah did great on my lap though and cooperated for her whole cleaning.  She also had 20 teeth and Hannah picked strawberry toothpaste.  Hannah also got to wear a cool pair of sunglasses and each of them got lots of treats from Mrs. Sarah which they thought was really special (although they often get treats from her even when we don't go to the dentist).  Hopefully the next time we go it will be easier and Hannah will actually sit in the dental chair by herself.