The DENTIST!

If you ask a pediatrician, they will tell you take a child to the dentist at age 3. Ask a pediatric dentist and they will tell you when the first several teeth start coming through or by 18 months. I'd been thinking about it for a while, but in Sept. they didn't have anything til November.

I kept reminding myself to prep Eddie and fortunately made it to the library last Friday with him and Josie to get some books on going to the dentist. Then I forgot to read them to him more than at the library. So the night before the dentist Eddie and I were going over how he was going to open his mouth and I speculated that he might get a sticker and a new toothbrush. Those were two things I could fulfill if the dentist didn't come though.

Fortunately both Eddie and the Dentist did great. The dentist's office was decked out in Disney from the forms you fill out to the sinks to the 'bibs' to the wall of stuffed animals. Perfect. He was extremely relunctant and had to be coaxed at several points. Once she got going though--past getting into the chair and down to business, he was fine. He did a great job for the hygenist, Alex, but the Dentist it took a bit more.

The hygenist let Eddie take a look at each tool she was going to use, as above when she is using the cleaner on his hand. He seemed to get a kick out of the water stick and the suctiony thing--but then that's my favorite part of an otherwise unpleasant visit (for me). They did a full on cleaning and the dentist used that sharp hook, pointy thing. I thought for sure he was going to hurt himself the way he kept closing his mouth on it or grabbing at it, but the Dentist was quick with that thing and avoided any blood being drawn.

He was fine with the bib laying on him, but she lost traction when she wanted to hook it around him. Initially he didn't want to put on the sunglasses, but once the light was shined on him, he reconsidered. This is about the only time you'll see him in sunglasses as he hates wearing them.

Here he got to pick the flavor he wanted. He must of chosen well because he actually asked the hygenist to clean his teeth AGAIN. I kid you not. He wanted more. Clearly he liked the flavor--grape that he had selected.

She was amused and commented on what a good job he did--that most kids don't usually do such a good job. Course this ruined it for the actual Dentist because that took a lot of effort. Partially I think because Eddie lost his game edge while he had to wait 5 minutes for the dentist.

Check that box off. Wow! Because someone will ask: He has 8 teeth on top and 8 on bottom. Doesn't have his 2-year molars yet. Dentist said sometimes kids are into their 3s and since he got his teeth late (around one-year old), it's not surprising.