Going to the Dentist

One health concern for children with special needs is going to the dentist. If your child won't even let you near his/her mouth, how is a dentist or hygienist going to stick a whole bunch of tools in there to do their job?

We started taking our daughter to our regular dentist since she was three. We didn't have the dentist look at her until she was five. We started bringing her to watch her other sisters and us get our teeth cleaned. We made sure she watched each and every one of us sit in the chair with smiles on our faces and made it seem like no big deal. We went two times a year.

We started out small with her -"isn't it fun to sit in the chair?" The cartoons were always on and the hygienist was always instructed to let her feel the brush against her hand. However the noise of the electric tooth brush bothered her. We did get her to open her mouth and say "ahhhhh". That was progress.

We brush her teeth three times a day. We usually let her brush first then we take over and finish for her. We even bought her a battery operated toothbrush to help her get used to it. She liked it. The hygienist and dentist took a look every time we were able to get her to say "ahhh" and they didn't see anything wrong.

We finally got her to sit in the chair and actually got the most basic of cleaning from the hygienist. That was a great day.

Unfortunately a short time after that I had to bring her in to have a stubborn baby tooth removed. She got in the chair with no problem the tooth was pulled and she cried but she got over it quickly.

It was the next time that was the problem. Every six months my kids go to the dentist for regular cleanings and it was that time again. My daughter pitched a fit and refused to get in the chair. We did everything, including standing on our heads. But no, she wouldn't do it.

The people out in the waiting room must have thought we were killing her. I apologized to the hygienist and we agreed that it may be time for her to seek alternative methods.

I hate the thought of having to go under anesthesia, but I know that in the future it would be better for her to keep all of her own teeth then have feeding issues later on.

So we made the appointment and went the dentist that specializes in this type of procedure. They tried to coax her into the chair. When she wouldn't they examined her standing up. The examine consisted of glimpses when we got her to say "ahhh".

It was really funny when her older sister got into the chair, handed her a dental mirror and said "examine me". She did. She put the mirror in her sister's mouth and started to talk. Whatever she said she was pretty pleased with it. I don't think her older sister had any cavities.

The dentist agreed that she was a candidate for this type of procedure and we would have to schedule an OR at the hospital. They would do everything at once, x-rays, cleaning, sealants and cavities. The works.

I agree this is the only way to go for her. I will continue to take her to the regular dentist to watch us get our cleanings, maybe someday she will see that it's not that bad and cooperate.

We can hope and pray!!

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