First Dentist Appointment

Since Justin had a semi-successful haircut I decided it was time to start thinking about a dentist visit. Our pediatrician told us a long time ago that the new recommendation was to take kids within 6 months of their first tooth. My reply to him was "Have you see this kid in your office? Can you imagine how he would be at the dentist?"

Justin recently started wanting to read the Elmo dentist book that I bought him ages ago- so I needed to take advantage of this interest and called the dentist and made an appointment. We have been talking about it a lot- hoping that it would make for a smooth visit.

The dentist is just downstairs from the doctors office- so we were in familiar territory- but when we got to the door of the office he didn't want to go in- it took some convincing. We got there early so he could play in the waiting room and I could continue to talk to him about how he was going to sit on the big chair and how the dentist would count his teeth and tickle them with a toothbrush.

When they called him back he did NOT want to go. I finally bribed him by telling him he could watch a John Deere video (search John Deere on you tube sometime- the kid would watch any of it) if he went back. He will do almost anything for a tractor.

We got to the back and he would not get in the chair- not by himself, not on my lap, not even for that promised John Deere video. The dentist was great though - and convinced him to show her his teeth while standing by the chair and eventually let her brush them. She called them dinosaur teeth- she knows what little boys like to hear!

Since things had the potential to go pretty terrible- I think that was a great visit! Especially when I think about some of our other doctor visits and haircuts! This kiddo just needs a lot of prep before new experiences. He really likes to take it all in before he decides it is something he wants to try. It will be interesting to see how Kyle is in these situations! Justin is my sweet, shy and timid boy!