Jack Goes To The Dentist

I thought about titling this post "Jack's First Trip To The Dentist", but it's not actually his FIRST trip.  His first trip was six months ago, but he didn't end up actually getting seen by the dentist.  Instead, he acted like a complete fool and the dentist decided we'd wait another six months.  

I have always dreaded going to the dentist (with a kid).  Justice had really bad teeth when he was Jack's age, and by the time he was four he had two crowns, three extractions, three cavities, and a permanent spacer to keep the extraction spaces open for the permanent teeth to eventually come in.  The first few times I took Justice for work on his teeth were absolutely horrible.  He cried, and cried, and cried and it took the dentist an hour to get him to open his mouth, and that's AFTER the gas.  The gas made him throw up everywhere, and the gas made him so loopy he would babble and jabber the entire time he was in the chair.  He has had a clean bill of dental health now for 18 months, thank goodness!!!  

He is still scared to death of going to the dentist, though, as evidenced by the terrified look on his face and the "stiff as a corpse in the morgue" body language.  Poor little peanut head.  

The last time Justice had major work done, we walked in the office and the kind lady at the desk opened Justice's file, and it was like she silently called some sort of "code" in the office.  Right before my eyes the secretary gave the hygienist a "look" when she handed her the file, and after she opened the file she gave the same look to the dentist.  Then, without a word, the hygienist pulled an empty trash can (aka puke bucket) over to the chair he was sitting on, and brought a cold Sprite out and set it out on the counter.  I can only imagine what his file must say!  "PUKER" in bold letters I imagine.  It also must say "PSYCHO", because the music got softer and the lights got dimmer (probably not, haha) and everyone began speaking in much quieter tones.  During the procedure,  he kept true to his "PUKER" moniker and the dentist didn't skip a beat, gave him some Sprite, wiped his face and kept on drilling.  

Fast forward to Jack today.  Justice had been complaining of a toothache the past week or so and I assumed he'd have more work to be done, so I was already apprehensive about going.  AND, let's toss Jack's first (second) appointment in for good measure and I was really dreading it.  He bit the heck out of my finger this morning while I was brushing his teeth because he hates it when I floss his teeth, so I was afraid he was going to bite the dentist and have "BITER" in his file.  

In contrast to his scared-stiff brother, here's what Cool Breeze looked like in the chair this morning.

No fear here, thank GOODNESS!  I really don't think I could have handled another dental tragedy with a kid.

Dentist:  "Hey big guy, how are your teeth?  Is anything bothering you?"

Jack:  "Yes, I think I have a piece of chicken in my teeth, can you get it out for me?"

Dentist:  "Well, you already had your teeth cleaned today, so I'm pretty sure there isn't any chicken in your teeth.  Did you have chicken for breakfast?"

Jack:  "No,  I had it last week."

Ohhhhhhh, REALLY JACK?  Ugh!

The hygienist also asked him how old he is, and he correctly responded "3, and I will be 4 next week". No big deal, except that I really didn't think he knew how old he is.  Every single time I or anyone else asks him how old he is he responds with "2".  I've tried every possible thing to get him to learn his age and I honestly thought he was sort of slow, until today.  Now I realize he is strictly tormenting me.  Well played, Jack.  Well played.  

I'm grateful to report both boys got a clean bill of dental health, and Jack's first (second) appointment was easy and painless for both of us.  No biting or puking today!