POOR GIRL!!!

So Samantha's dentist appointment was today. My poor girl! She did AMAZING! A few tears, but understandable. She was a bit scared. I tried talking her through it and she remained calm, but let me tell you about "Kool Smiles." THEY SUUUUUUCK!!! At least based on our experience. I have always heard that Kool Smiles was the best pediatric dentist around. They are supposed to have this awesome playground with nice dentists who are very personal and great with kids. WRONG! First of all, they are the fast food of dentistry! She didn't even get her own room. They put her in this big room with rows of chairs and no curtains or anything. When the assistant came in to clean her teeth, Samantha was so ecstatic and she wanted to talk to her and tell her her name and everything. She even asked if she could show her her "Bearenstain Bears Go To The Dentist." Well, apparently, they don't have time for that there. She didn't say a word to her. She just leaned her back, held her down, and started cleaning her teeth. Samantha cried a little and said she did not like it. And the lady did not even take the time to talk to her and explain what she was doing!!! UGH IT MAKES ME SO MAD!!! Just thinking about it! Not only that, but she made Samantha's gums bleed! At one point the lady said, "I am sorry I am hurting you." And to that, Samantha replied, "No. You aren't." And the lady didn't say anything else. Just finished and walked off! Then the dentist came up to tell me they were going to do some x-rays, but apparently he didn't have time for her to show him her book or anything either! He didn't even introduce himself either. So they did x-rays and she did alright. Then they took us in the consultation room to tell us that she had a cavity in the back bottom-very normal for her age they said. She told me I had two options. 1. Bring her in there and have her strapped down to a board and they will fill it in. or 2. Take her to a specialist and he will put her to sleep and fill it in. (I really did not want her put to sleep.) So I was worried ALL DAY! I ended up calling them back to talk about the risks of putting her to sleep so that it didn't "scar" her being strapped down. And the dentist I talked to said she had no clue who told me that, but she was WRONG! They are NOT going to strap her to a board. They will gas her and IF they have to strap her as a last resort, they will have to have our consent. And second, NO specialist in their right mind will sedate a 2 or 3 year old to fill ONE cavity. You have to have at least 5 to even get referred. UGH! I am so upset! I tried so hard to get her excited about the dentist. We read books, watched a show about the dentist, looked up pictures of dentists and the dentist office, dressed up like dentist and pretended, and made "mouth sandwiches" out of peanut butter and marshmellows. Everything. She couldn't wait. And now...she probably doesn't want to go back. But again, I am very proud of her for not freaking out and just toughing it out. She used her words and told me how she felt and we talked about it. I Love my Big Girl!!!

Head Mirrors

Pretending to be The Dentist

Mouth Sandwich

It's gonna eat ya!

Showing Me Her Clean Teeth