Friday, September 12, 2008

Dental Drama

Prior to this day, I've referred to our dentist as the "cartoon dentist." He's a bit, um, comic looking. He's also very kind. For Ashlyn's first appointment, he didn't even take her into the exam room. He just told her that she would get to pick a toy if she opened her mouth. The end. Except for the part where he told me, after looking for 5 seconds, that she had cavities. (We are not going to discuss why she has cavities. I feel bad enough. Thankyouverymuch.)

Today, she had those cavities filled. The dentist assured me that by giving her valium beforehand, she will not remember this for long. I hope not. It was really quite a terrible experience. Ashlyn sat on my lap. She did really well with the numbing, and he had her close her eyes while he was giving the shot. Then, he started drilling. She started squirming a little bit and then crying and screaming. I started crying. He kept drilling. She kept crying and trying to wiggle around to face me. I just held her and held down her hands. And cried. And thought not very nice thoughts about the dentist who no longer seemed like a cartoon, but a torturer. With which I was helping him.

When he was finished, Ashlyn was crying in my arms and saying "a boo-boo" while pointing to her mouth. I was trying to reassure her. The dentist asked her if she would like to pick out a toy. She stopped crying and said "yes." I felt a little better after that. Ashlyn is currently sleeping, and will hopefully not remember any of this next week when she has to go back to the dentist.

9 comments:

The Capozzoli Clan said...

William had a cavaity too. We went to get it filled and William, too, started screaming and crying. He knew what went on in "that" room. So the dentist referred us to a pediatric dentist and they too recommended the valium. We ended up not needing in...the filling took all of 1 minute. But, William does still remember the experience. He talks about it now and then. We haven't gone back to the dentist since. Our 6 month appointment is in two weeks. I am a bit nervous about how he will do....we'll see. I do hope that Ashlyn is young enough that she will forget...and so will you. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and if you want you can check out the blog for my post on it....it is probably under William.

Anonymous said...

I finally found a dentist that I like and have not felt any pain with. This only took 52 years! I never would have been able to hold Ashlyn while she was in that chair - you're much braver than I would have been.

Grandma Vicki

wesleysmom said...

When Wesley was not even 2, while the guys were deployed, I had to go to Houston to find a dentist to find someone who would treat his 4?6?(can't remember) cavities without putting him under general anasthesia since no one in Alaska could do it. I found one but I was not allowed to be in the room with him. They used gas. It was the most torturous feeling to hear him scream mommy and not be able to go to him. I hope he never ever remembers that experience. I'm sure he was traumatized for life. According to that dentist, most of them were pre-existent (before birth) but some had decayed further into cavities after birth. Now I see what looks like a cavity in his mouth and I am dreading going to the dentist to see if it really is one.

wesleysmom said...

I forgot to mention that he didn't get fillings b/c he had a nickel allergy and there was some other issue. So they dug out the decay and just sealed them.

wesleysmom said...

I am so tired that I keep on making mistakes. I meant to say that he had preexistent lesions (pre-cavities) of which some turned into cavities. I hope my children sleep well tonight so I can too!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Angie, my god. I am SO sorry. I am cringing just thinking about you and Ashlyn having to go through this, though I'm glad you were able to at least be next to her (small comfort, right?). And now I'm kind of freaking...my dentist said not to bring Beth until she was 5 years old, that 3 was probably too soon. I don't want her mouth to rot! Sheesh.

Katie said...

How AWFUL!!!! I can't believe you both had to go through that. It sounds horribly traumatic for both of you.....

I guess I should actually start brushing Becca's teeth instead of just letting her suck on the toothbrush. Oops.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh Angie, that sounds awful. I'm so sorry for you and Ashlyn. That must've been horrible. Please give each other a BIG hug from me.

The Dunns said...

How horrible! I hope that is the last time you have to do that! I had lots of dental issues, cavities & such, as a kid but I actually remember liking the dentist and wanting to be a dentist when I grew up. Weird, huh? Valium is a great amnesia agent. She shouldn't remember much, if anything.

Daniel had his first dentist visit when he was 4. He actually sat still enough for good x-rays and he fortunately had no cavities. Mikey was seen at 2, but it was just a quick visual exam on my lap.

I give them fluoride drops hoping that will help their little teeth since we are on well water. Is your water fluoridated?