A Trip to the Dentist

There are occasions in a parent's life where you just do not know how your kids ended up so different. The girls had a dental appointment this morning. Alexa had never been to the dentist before. This was her first trip. Chloe has been about 5 times now (starting when she was three), but this was her first visit to this dentist. Her dad and I decided to try a new dentist, one that specialized in kids.

Both girls were shy at first but cooperative. We all went to the brushing area where the hygienist's gave the girls new brushes and worked with them on how to brush their teeth properly. We then went into the exam room. At first they were not going to have Alexa do a cleaning because she is so young. They really stress an experience that doesn't stress the child out. We then decided to try it, and she and I went into another room. She was very cooperative; doing everything they asked. She got through a full polishing, flossing, had the fluoride brushed on her teeth, and a check by the dentist. She then got to pick out of the prize box. She choose a green ring (just like Dora in her favorite book about Dora visiting the dentist) and a sticker. She literally skipped her way out of the room and down the hall to her sister's room.

I had already heard Chloe complaining and crying from down the hall. I opted to stay with Alexa as I hoped she might do better dealing with just new people without mom intervening. Chloe has never been easy at the dentist. She resists any of the flavors for the polishing as ,"yucky" and often clamps her mouth shut when asked to open. I entered her room to find her turned around in the chair legs and arms crossed refusing to look at anyone. Needless to say the hygienist had long since called it a day. We had discussed Chloe's issues ahead of time and I told her she is often difficult and unreasonable. She assured me that it was not uncommon (I think they just say that to make you feel better) and that they would keep trying every six months. She said some kids are not ready for their first full cleaning until the age of 8. She did cooperate for the dentist (who must qualify for some kind of medal). Although at that point I was sitting next to her and she got a view of her sister's prizes that may have offered proper motivation. He got a look inside and felt like things were progressing OK and there was no evidence of decay. She got to pick from the prize box at the end and choose a sticker and a lizard.

It never ceases to amaze me how different they are. We left with Alexa skipping along saying how fun she thought the dentist was, and me holding Chloe's hand whispering a lecture of proper behavior and being cooperative. All in all it did go a lot better at this dentist's office. Our previous dentist actually yelled at her (she was four at the time). I left that experience with both of us so stressed I wanted to cry too. Hopefully over time she will get use to people working in her mouth and cooperate. She has never been a kid to take the easy road. Everything is a battle and her sister is almost the complete opposite. Thank God because I don't think I could take two the same.