First Trip to the Dentist

I have a dental phobia -- in fact, my dentist has a phobia of me too and announced recently that he couldn't "give me what I needed" so he dropped me as his patient. My phobia runs so deep that I had to have a root canal and crown a couple of years ago and paid mighty handsomely to a "sedation" dentist who hooked me up to an IV so I would black out and could make it through the procedure.

But I digress. Jack has a lifetime to make his own judgements about the dentist so we ensured his first trip to the dentist was a positive one.

We chose Dr. Nancy Hsieh, a pediatric dentist. Before our first visit, we were sent a little personalized book to prep Jack for what he would see and who he would meet. We read how we would meet "Dr. Nancy" and her helpers, saw the big chair that he would sit in, and the instruments that would be used (Mr. Thirsty, Mr. Wind, and Slim).

We were greeted enthusiastically when we arrived and played with some toys in the waiting area. When it was our turn, we passed a counter stocked with rolls of stickers and little toys where Jack could take a sticker and toy of his choice at the end of our visit.

Jack was shown how to brush his teeth using a stuffed fish outfitted with dentures as an example. Then he was allowed to chose his own brush and tried himself. Dr. Nancy and crew polished his teeth, flossed (yes!), and scraped a bit.

Once it was all over, Jack received a goodie bag filled with dental goodies and then we chose an Elmo sticker and toy car at the counter on the way out.

Jack was amazing through it all - never once shirked or squealed or fainted. Mom was so proud.

CLICK HERE for more pictures of Jack's first visit to the dentist.