So today was a big day for Erik with his teeth cleaning, but I am jumping into the middle of the story before I start at the beginning. Let's start with the process. Carl has been complaining to me for months to make a dentist appointment for Erik. I knew I wanted him to go to the same dentist who came to his Thursday 2s class because he responded so well to her and she seemed to get kids. I couldn't remember her name and I kept forgetting to ask. Then one day in Elliot's class the teacher mentioned her name so I could finally make the appointment. Long story, but I really wanted Erik to be set up with that dentist.
Since this dentist does not work any of my sitter days, I decided after story time would be perfect and I'll just take both boys, then Elliot got sick. So I tried to get a sitter for today, no luck, and then begged Carl to work from home so Erik could go to story time and I could just take him to the dentist alone. Luckily Carl was able to help.
Erik absolutely adores story time and that is one of the reason I really wanted to take him. This is the first one in over two months and we are going to miss a few in the next couple of weeks, so I wanted him to get in as much time as possible. After story time we always get new library books to take home. Erik always skips the art project and heads directly for the books, he just loves to read!
Then we headed over to the dentist office for our first visit. This place really is a kid haven, and made for the little ones especially. Erik was in love with the train in the lobby, climbing it and sitting on it pretending he was getting "lost." He also loved the fish and the toys, so much so that he ignored the movie on TV.
I wasn't exactly sure how Erik would react to the dentist. In general he is really good about things, like getting his haircut or visiting the doctor. He always sits still for them and likes being checked out. Today I made the dentist a big and exciting deal and told him what fun it was going to be and how he would get his teeth cleaned and then get a new toothbrush to take home with him. He was pretty excited about it.
Then the light came on and the equipment came out and Erik wasn't so sure about it, but went with it anyway. Dora was on the TV and there were a lot of toys in the corner, so he was more concerned about the toys then the cleaning. He had never seen Dora before so the TV did not keep his attention, especially when there were "Cars" toys within his grasp. He kept asking to have a special treat of "Cars" toys after his cleaning...
Through the cleaning Erik did fantastic. He never fussed or complained or asked to go home. When I asked him what he remembered and liked the most about the dentist, he responded that he liked the suction hose. I think he liked putting it on his tongue and letting it suck it. He's been doing that with his squeeze apple sauce lately so it worked for him.
A children's teeth cleaning is pretty simple stuff. They polished his teeth with paste that tastes like bubble gum, flossed and counted everything. Then they put on fluoride to last him for the next six months. I did get the usual lectures about making sure to floss his teeth everyday and brush in circles closer to the gum line, but no cavities. Then the dentist came over, met Erik and checked out all his teeth and he was sent home. Easy day, easy cleaning and not a single tear shed.
I really like his toy they have for the kids to play with. He got to pick the giraffe and then practice brushing the teeth. At the Thursday 2s class they brought the same giraffe and Erik really responded well then. It is a great visual in a friendly way to show the kids how to floss and brush which Erik loved to do after that class and still likes to do everyday.
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