Monday, December 13, 2010

We heart the Pediatric Dentist

Today I took both the kids to the Pediatric Dentists' office, who are relatively new in town, and have actual fellowship training in the field of pediatrics. But their biggest qualification in my son's eyes is the cool train set and tunnel slide they have in the waiting room, along with the kids' movies they play on ceiling-mounted TVs over every exam chair. There is one other local, self-proclaimed "Pediatric Dentist" in Podunkville who is suspect, and is all about cheesy marketing tactics like pictures of himself with each patient turned into a refrigerator magnet in primary colors with a fugly font (design snob coming out here), and pushing of freaky baby teeth extraction, which is IMHO way too aggressive of an approach for a child under the age of 6 without any permanent teeth! Anyway... DS has been going every few months just to have his teeth brushed well, and to acclimate him to sitting in the exam chair. It has taken about 9 months, but he has finally warmed up to the idea of letting the dentist look in his mouth for several minutes at a time. And today was his first tear-free visit!

Because DS was on the bottle for a ridiculously long time (3 years, ugh).... I was sure he'd have massive teeth problems, so we have been extremely proactive about dental care. Happy to report there isn't anything wrong with his teeth as a result of our inability to get him bottle-free on a more normal timeframe. He is a big fan of strawberry flavored toothpaste and mouth rinse at home, and chocolate flavored toothpaste is a special treat reserved for going to the dentist.

As we were leaving, and DS was about to get a prize, he suddenly asked the hygienist where the potty was, and he went. I had a realization: holy shit, my kid finally is really, truly, and actually potty-trained! Thank you baby Jebus!!

DD did really great during her very first dental visit today, as well! She loves to get her teeth brushed - all 6 and a half of them. She has 4 on top, two on the bottom, and the dentist discovered that about half of a molar has erupted on her top right side. Hmm, so that explains the nighttime crankiness we experienced recently. I had a damn hard time going back to sleep after her first wake-up, but I had mis-attributed it to having watched a superscary episode of "Celebrity Ghost Stories" on the Biography Channel. Note: it is not only the tales of hauntings that are scary, it is the visuals of these once-beautiful celebs I recall from childhood having turned into old people and/or bad plastic surgery cases! Yikes!!

Speaking of ghost stories, I want to send a thank you shout-out to Caramama and Paola for their recommendation of the delicious gothic book "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. It was my pick for the non-shitty book club I just joined, and so far it seems to have raised my esteem in some of the other members' eyes.

11 comments:

blue said...

Two things:

Baby teeth extraction? WTF? I totally can see the description of that stupid dentist. I'm so curious, are you a designer?

Also, chocolate toothpaste? Sign me up!

It's been a long day and I don't have anything else right now... peace out.

Melba said...

Confessions of a Bad Mom - even after having to endure taking 3 year old Rosie to have a cavity filled, I still do not regularly brush 10 month old Annie's 4 teeth. For shame.

Congrats to DS for both the tear free visit (complete with actual check-up!) and the unprompted potty request! He's a big boy now.

mom2boy said...

Oh, I so need to get us both to the dentist! Congrats on the healthy check-up.

Does this mean DS is off the bottle? Congrats on that too. :) And peeing in public (well, not exactly IN public). Big milestones!

I don't like scary. Well, I'll read scary books but scary movies/tv shows are too much. I'm a chicken. I hope the non-shitty book club stays non-shitty and is actually a fun social activity for you. Sounds like things are really starting to gel in podunkville.

Baby teeth extraction? on babies? I guess I technically had two baby teeth extracted but I was 12 and about to get braces and my back top two molars hadn't come out yet. Somehow that doesn't seem as freaky.

Cloud said...

@Melba- you could give the baby the toothbrush and let her chew. That's better than nothing, right?

We love our pediatric dentist, too. Our at least Pumpkin does. I've never been- that has been Hubby's job.

Zenmoo said...

Oh I should get on to that whole tooth brushing thing... But Moo still only has 2 teeth... (although I am sure more are imminent due to shitty nightwaking issues)

Oh and the Thirteenth Tale is excellent! I really enjoyed it and frequently recommend it to people too. It's nicely gothic.

Jac. said...

We have a super awesome pediatric dentist too. So far, DS has no teeth problems. Am hoping he has my good genes (31 and never a cavity!).

The best thing about OUR pediatric dentist? He's totally smoking hot. He's known around town as the hottie kiddie dentist. Women all over Vancouver are beating down the door to get their kids in as his patients and only a small part of that is related to his skills as a dentist. I contemplated posting a link to his website (which has his picture) so you could see what I am talking about, but decided to exercise a little discretion and restraint. But trust when I say that taking DS to the dentist is always a pleasure.

paola said...

Glad it did the job! Got anything for me?? Think hubby is getting me a Kindle for Xmas ( he is so lousy at keeping segrets) and need some ideas.

Caryn said...

So jealous that you have a pediatric dentist in town! I love my dentist, but I'd like a pediatric dentist for when we start taking our daughter. Glad your visit went so well!

Oh, and I LOVED The Thirteenth Tale. I listened to it on audio and was riveted. Some great twists and turns.

hush said...

@blue - not a professional designer, just someone who appreciates good, affordable design, and who makes snarky comments about poor design though having no actual skillz myself! One needs to formal training to be a critic, right?

@Melba - Brushing kids' teeth sucks, so I can completely understand why it isn't your favorite activity ever. ;) You're not a "bad mom" - a real bad mom wouldn't even bother having said cavities discovered or treated, that is, if she had the means to do so but chose not to.

@mom2boy - Thank you; we are glad DS is finally bottle and diaper free! "I guess I technically had two baby teeth extracted but I was 12 and about to get braces and my back top two molars hadn't come out yet. Somehow that doesn't seem as freaky." I agree, age matters as to the freakiness factor - it seems more legit the older the kid is.

@Cloud - That is really cool that you have never been and that DH is the point parent on it- one of the many secrets to a happy union, no? ;)

@Zenmoo - Our 14 month old really likes playing with toothbrushes and is pretty open to us doing it, so you might have some luck at this age.

@Jac - How are you NOT going to post a link of the hotness for our viewing pleasure?? Throw me a bone! (pun intended!) ;) Just kidding - I love it though. There is a local ped here who is a hottie mc hot hot, but doesn't quite do it for me. I just can't seem to masturbate to a dude wearing a mickey mouse tie.

@Paola - If you liked "Thirteenth Tale," I've also heard you might like "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - has a similar gothic feel, and old bookstore themed beginning. That is next on my list, along with "Wolf Hall" which you also recommended.

@Caryn - We live in a pretty tiny town and got a ped dentist, so maybe you'll also have some luck?

caramama said...

Glad you liked the book! I thought it was pretty cool.

And this post reminds me... I STILL have to make an appointment with the ped dentist for my daughter...

paola said...

Hush, read 'Shadow of the Wind', but found it a bit too Dan Brownish.