A Dentist We Will Go

So, my toddler went for his first dentist check up at 2 years old.

We prepared by role playing at home, with me being the dentist, wearing my dishwashing gloves (I didn't have the latest ones like the dentist), and brandishing the "dentist stick", which was the gum massager with a rubber tip.

I told my son that he needs to say "ahhh" and to not bite, because it would hurt mommy's fingers. I said that the dentist will check his teeth so that there aren't any bugs (germs). I think the bug thing worked because Josh doesn't like anything that crawls (ants especially. But, that's another blog entry about getting Josh to like bugs).

Then, I would get my flashlight and shine it in his mouth. My son understands the concept of flashlight, because we got a Little Tykes flashlight for him to play with in the dark. So, when I told him it was dark in his mouth, and I would need to use a flashlight, I think it helped him know what was going on.

It also helped that one of his favorite Richard Scary books, has a picture of a lion dentist with his patient reclying in the dentist chair.

The big day finally came.. and I'm happy to report that Josh passed with flying colors. I think it helped that he was familiar with everything he was going to see and was told to do. Well, the truth is it also depends on the child's personality. Some children are more shy and wary
of new environments, so I would say it just all depends on the child.

I think it helped me personally to do the prep work of role playing. It made me feel like I did what I could on my part. And that's a big part of easing the trip to the dentist.