Claire's First Visit to the Dentist

Yesterday Claire had her first dentist appointment. I had been putting it off for a few months - as shy as she is, I was worried that it would be a complete disaster. Robert arranged to be there, so I at least knew that together we'd be able to handle it, and the office assured me that they would only do as much as she was comfortable with. We had a bit of luck with the fact that her school was learning about "Community Workers" that week, and on Monday they learned about the dentist. They practiced "flossing" on an upside down egg carton and talked a lot about how the dentist looks at your teeth. After her lesson, she was excited about her appointment. When we arrived, Claire was excited to play with the video games, puzzles, toys, etc. in the waiting room. It was a good start! We walked with the hygienist back to her station, and Claire eagerly climbed into the chair. She looked so tiny, but like such a big girl at the same time!

They gave her little sunglasses to wear so that the big light wouldn't be in her eyes, and she felt pretty cool in her glasses.

After a few pictures of her teeth, the exam and cleaning started. She wanted to hold my hand, but sat perfectly still the entire time. We were amazed! Our shy baby was letting a stranger put her hands in her mouth without flinching? She did such a great job!

After the hygienist was done, she gave Claire a goody bag, let her pick a toy out of the treasure chest, and made her a balloon animal. Then, she got to ride the Donald Duck ride while we were waiting for the dentist to come over to complete the exam.

We got a picture with Dr. Bob (he dresses up like a character every day - today he was Mr. Potato Head) to commemorate her first visit, and then we were on our way with a healthy snack. Claire now thinks the dentist's office is one of the most fun places around and can't wait for her next appointment.