The Dentist

The only thing worse than going to the dentist yourself is having to take your kids. We have had a pediatric dentist since we moved here and he has been okay. But the last time we went it wasn't a very good experience. I found that another pediatric dentist had come into town and so we decided to try him...and I'm so glad we did!

When you walk into the office it is decorated like an old Wild West town with playhouses and everything. On one wall is a HUGE tv that plays cartoons and on other wall is a touch video game machine (that's where Ethan made a bee-line to). There were all kinds of things to play with and the only magazines they had were Friend, New Era and Ensign (yes, we are in Utah).

When they called the kids back, the kids had to go through a small door that was just their size and then I met them on the other side.

Ethan has a gag reflex that was pretty strong so the old office was never able to get good x-rays because he would end up gagging and crying. They weren't as patient as they could have been but this office had no problems getting x-rays. I was shocked at how easy it was. (On a side note, Ethan has been using the snorkel for a couple of months at the pool and I think that may have helped with the gag reflex, but I don't know.) Courtney also didn't have any problems with the x-rays and did a great job.

The examination room was huge and had 4 little tables on it where the kids laid down and then up on the ceiling were tvs where they could watch "Tom & Jerry," "The Princess and the Frog," "Star Wars" or "Up." Ethan chose Tom and Jerry and then the hygienist brushed his teeth without any problem (something that also hasn't happened before). The only stress I had with it was that he kept laughing and I thought he was choking a couple of times.

Courtney also had a great time watching "Up" while the hygienist brushed her teeth with a toothbrush. She made sure to tell the woman that she doesn't like the "rotating tickling thing" so she used the brush. It went great...until it was time to suction her mouth out and it scared her. After that it was all downhill for Courtney but we had gotten much farther than before.

The dentist looked at their teeth and they had no cavities so we got coupons to Red Robin restaurant. Then they decided to seal Ethan's back teeth. This was scary because the last office tried to do this and it was a disaster. But he did amazing!! He just laid there, watched "Tom & Jerry" while they did their work. He gagged a few times just slightly but it was so nice to have him so happy with it all.

When it was over Ethan didn't want to leave the office because the show wasn't done. But they each got a toothbrush, toothpaste, a new book, balloon and a coupon to Red Robin. We all like going to the dentist now!

Courtney getting x-rays:

The video game machine:

Courtney at the office: