I took Ethan to the dentist yesterday. I was a little concerned about how things might go after speaking to a Mum at Preschool whose son recently needed fillings. Her son wouldn't open his mouth for the dentist in the initial examination and when they did get him to co-operate it was found that he had cavities. Then because of his age he had to be knocked out with general anaesthetic to get the fillings done and the whole thing was very expensive.
So with all of this swirling in my head I took Ethan for his dental appointment the following day. Fortunately he was mostly very co-operative with the dentist. The dentist had lots of little tricks to help Ethan feel comfortable. He liked wriggling his nose to make the seat go up and down. However, when the dentist told him he needed to say "lights on" to get the light to turn on, Ethan just sat there staring at her. When the dentist pointed out that the light still wasn't on, Ethan said "I'm not saying it because I don't want the light on". He changed his mind after a short while.
When he had finished his appointment and we were back in the waiting room I asked Ethan to let me look at his teeth. I told him that his teeth were very white and sparkly. His (loud) reply was "but I like yellow teeth"! Only a four year old would have that preference.
At dinner that night Ethan told David all about the dentist and then expressed sadness that the dentist didn't have any instruments. I jumped in and said "what about the pick for tickling your teeth and the sucker" etc etc. Ethan said "no those aren't instruments". Evidently when David and I had explained what would happen at the dentist, Ethan took 'instruments' to mean 'musical instruments' (understandably). He felt a little let down that the dentist didn't play him a song or try to put a musical instrument into his mouth.
No cavities. Yipee!
So with all of this swirling in my head I took Ethan for his dental appointment the following day. Fortunately he was mostly very co-operative with the dentist. The dentist had lots of little tricks to help Ethan feel comfortable. He liked wriggling his nose to make the seat go up and down. However, when the dentist told him he needed to say "lights on" to get the light to turn on, Ethan just sat there staring at her. When the dentist pointed out that the light still wasn't on, Ethan said "I'm not saying it because I don't want the light on". He changed his mind after a short while.
When he had finished his appointment and we were back in the waiting room I asked Ethan to let me look at his teeth. I told him that his teeth were very white and sparkly. His (loud) reply was "but I like yellow teeth"! Only a four year old would have that preference.
At dinner that night Ethan told David all about the dentist and then expressed sadness that the dentist didn't have any instruments. I jumped in and said "what about the pick for tickling your teeth and the sucker" etc etc. Ethan said "no those aren't instruments". Evidently when David and I had explained what would happen at the dentist, Ethan took 'instruments' to mean 'musical instruments' (understandably). He felt a little let down that the dentist didn't play him a song or try to put a musical instrument into his mouth.
No cavities. Yipee!
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