First Dentist Visit

After 4 years of living up in the 'burbs, it was about time for Brent and I to find a dentist close to home.  One of Brent's patients is the office manager for a dental office AND the office is minutes from our house.  So, Brent and I switched dentists.  We learned that this office does a "Kids Day" - complete with a theme.  The staff decorate the office in a theme and they even dress up to play the part.  I made an appointment for Abby's first dental visit on Kids Day.  The theme?  Pirates and Princesses.  Now, I am not one to push princesses, but somehow Abby just soaked it up.  She was SO excited to dress up to go to the dentist.  I've never seen or heard about another dentist office do anything like this, which is so fun.  

Abby kinda knew what the dentist was about because she got to accompany me a week earlier to my dental visit.  I explained that I was going to lay in a chair and someone was going to look at and clean my teeth.  She was a little startled by the water sprayer and sucker thingy, but the novelty wore off quickly with that.  Whew.  I think her coming with me to the dentist helped prepare her a bit.  

Abby was so excited about dressing up that when it was time to go back to the chair, she fussed a bit.  The dental hygienist had a video all ready to show Abby.  And it wasn't just any video to distract her, it was a video of 2 dogs going to the dentist.  We began to watch and I was doing my best to make connections for her.  "Look Abby, that doggy is sitting in the chair, just like you are".  At this point, she is refusing to sit in the chair by herself, so she is sitting on my lap.  Abby did allow the Patty, the hygienist, to go in and count her teeth (for those that care, Abby has 20 teeth - 10 on top and 10 on the bottom).  Abby just sat there with her mouth gaping open, which was so cute.  I had to tell her a couple of times that she could close her mouth.  Going back in to clean was another story.  That took more convincing.  Luckily, the cupcake flavored cleaner stuff (what's the name of that stuff - my pregnancy brain is having me draw a blank) was enough to allow Patty to get in Abby's mouth again to clean.  We had to change the flavor to bubble gum to clean the bottom teeth, but she got her teeth cleaned!  Patty shared that not everyone her age gets their teeth cleaned.  Just checking out the teeth, counting teeth and getting the experience is what they go for on the first visit.  When Dr. Nick came in dressed up like a pirate (complete with a long haired wig and pirate hat), that seemed to freak Abby out a bit.  She was not allowing him to count her teeth too.  She's probably thinking "Does everyone count teeth in this place?!"  But, Dr. Nick was fabulous.  He first counted how many noses Abby had, counted her eyes  and counted her ears.  When he counted 3 ears and she laughed saying "that's silly", I knew we were in.  Dr. Nick also counted 20 teeth.  And that was that.  

Abby got a goody bag complete with a toothbrush, floss, a princess tattoo, princess crown and treasure map.  There was even a table set up outside the office so the kids could do a craft!  Seriously, a craft!  

This office goes above and beyond to make kids feel comfortable and have fun.  What a neat place.  

On a side note, you can't see in any of the pictures, but Abby is wearing "princess shoes" or "slippers" as Abby calls them.  They were new for the dentist.  Well, she is now obsessed.  We can get home from daycare and she immediately goes upstairs, takes off her shoes, puts on her princess shoes and crown.  She will even take off her shorts to put on her princess skirt.  And the skirt is a see-through layer of tulle, so all we see is her underwear covered with this single layer of tulle with a crown and princess shoes.  Oh, Abby...you crack us up.