Another milestone down

We made the dreaded first trip to the dentist. The reason I say dreaded is because Dylan can't stand strangers touching him...and as far as Cameron, monkey see, monkey do. We've never taken Dylan before because I knew it would be a nightmare. Now that he's in first grade the school requires that they get a checkup (or they'll do it at school). I told Dylan that it would be better for him if I took him and then he'll get prizes and stuff at our dentist. Since Dylan needed to go, might as well take Cameron too since our dentist recommends a child's first visit be when they're 3.

I scheduled for Cam to go first because I knew he'd be a little easier to coax into the chair. When we got called back to the room Cameron started to freak out. He didn't want to go and was ready to throw a tantrum. I convinced him to simply go look at the room. Once we were there I asked if he wanted to sit on my lap in the chair. He hopped right up and the rest of the visit went extremely smooth. He opened right up and did wonderfully! They cleaned his teeth and flossed them. What a great job he did! He was so excited afterward. He kept saying "That was fun! It didnt hurt at all!" And no cavities!

Cam having fun at the dentist

Then it was Dylan's turn (with a different hygienist). Of course he threw a fit. He refused to lay back in the chair and refused to open his mouth. He even tore off the paper bib. Finally after 1/2 hour he opened his mouth and the rest of the appt went smoothly (he sat up during the checkup, he wouldn't lay back). At least we got through it and they were able to check and clean his teeth. Not only was it hard for him emotionally to let a stranger dig around in his mouth, but he's been embarrassed about the missing tooth (wouldn't even show his teeth to me) and he didn't like the fact that the gloves tasted like rubber. So, even after all that, he managed to go through with it. Which means that all in all the appointment went fairly well (minus the first half). I was already prepared for a battle and assumed that there was a chance that Dylan wouldn't open his mouth at all. So the simple fact that he let the hygienist and dentist into his mouth to poke and prod is considered a success. He didn't have any cavities either.

Cameron playing with the giant teeth and giant toothbrush

Dylan didn't mind getting in the chair with Cameron