Abby at the dentist

doing her excited dance in the dentist's chair 

Abby loves the dentist. Not like, love. She counts down the days until her appointment.  It is a wonderful office for kids. Their effort to create a positive experience for kids really works.

At her last regular visit, the dentist detected some decay in the back teeth on both sides of her mouth. Abby sat like such a big girl when it was time to get an x-ray. The hygienist noted that they normally have to sedate children under the age of six to get the pictures they need, but Abby listened so well and did everything they asked. We learned that Abby's teeth are genetically very pitted, which means there are deep crevices that are impossible to reach with even the best cleaning. The dentist wanted to make sure we took care of it before it became any worse.

Last week, Abby had her first procedure done and she did great! She couldn't eat anything after midnight the night before, which means no breakfast or water the morning of. Her appointment was at 8:45 in the morning and with a 6:30 am wakeup, I braced myself for lots of "I'm hungry!" complaints. She did not complain once. She just kept saying, "I can't eat anything because I am going to the dentist this morning. They have to work on my teeth. I can't wait to go to the dentist!"
When Joe and Abby arrived at the office, Abby had to drink a sedative (similar to Benedryl) and sit in the waiting room for an hour. When they called her back, she had to go all by herself. She was allowed to bring Horton! In the room, Abby and Horton chatted with the dentist and hygienists while they gave her some laughing gas and Novocaine. The procedure took about forty minutes. When Abby was brought out to Joe, she was happy and loopy as she carried her handfuls of prizes for her job well done.  Our little girl who talks a mile a minute had slow, slurred speech as she recovered from her meds. It was pretty funny to watch.

Abby: Daaaaaddddddddddy, do...youuuuuuu...like...spiiiiiiders?
Daddy: Not really. Do you?
Abby: No Daaaaaddddddy. I like it when...you...killlllllll...them.

Daddy: Abby, do you feel loopy?
Abby: Yup.

Our only regret...not getting it on video on the way home.
My fear going into the appointment was that somehow in the midst of the work she was having done she would lose her fearless love of the dentist. No need to fear, Abby's only tears came when she learned she only had to go back one more time to finish the work on her teeth AND she doesn't understand why she has to wait so long. Why can't we go to the dentist ALL the time?

So, one side down, one more to go. Her next appointment is in November.

So proud of you Beebs!

showing off some of her rewards