Timothy had his first visit to the dentist today. I was a little apprehensive about how to control a squirming toddler, but how could I resist an offer for a free checkup and cleaning?
Things went great. Since we went to a pediatric dentist, there were toys to play with, and Timothy loved it. Once we went back, he didn’t have to sit in the chair, the dentist just had Timothy face me on my lap and lay down on my lap and the dentist’s lap so I could hold Timothy’s arms down. He used a toothbrush and mirror to check out and clean his teeth at the same time, then he applied a little flouride to his teeth and he was all set. Timothy does have a little bit of tissue connecting his upper lip to his upper gums, but the dentist said we could wait and deal with that just before he gets his permanent teeth. It won’t be a big procedure to cut or anything, but at this age he would have to be sedated, and there’s just no reason to rush. He said everything looked good, showed me how to floss his teeth with a pretty cool flossing tool, and even gave me advice on how to get Nathaniel to stop sucking his thumb. It was a very pleasant visit, and Timothy came away from it clutching a toothbrush and a big superball. I’m sure he’ll be happy to go back there in six months!
