Destinee's 1st Visit to the Dentist

I have been hesitating to take Des to the Dentist for quite some time until yesterday (26th November, 2006). Frankly speaking, I really have this phobia of going up the stairs to the dentist's clinic let alone allow the doctor do my teeth.

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The nite before taking Des to the clinic, I had a sleepless nite thinking about how Des will react when she sits on the chair in the dentist's room and what I was supposed to do if she insists of not letting the dentist check her teeth. I have to admit dat I WAS REALLY REALLY WORRIED and SCARED! (u can laugh ur hearts out *duh*)

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Yesterday, after we did some marketing, Pappy and I took Des to the Dental Surgeon on the main road of Seri Kembangan. Pappy had to park the car and I took Des to register with the clinic. As I was going up the stairs with Des, I could hear my heart beats 'thumping'. Des, asked me where I was taking her. I told her I was taking her to see a doctor who was going to check her teeth and she had to open her mouth wide to let the doctor check. She jovially opened her mouth wide and asked me "Like this ar, mommy?" I didn't know whether to be laugh at her remarks dat she was not scared or I was still worried.

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After having Des's name registered, we sat on the bench to wait for Des's turn. Pappy joined us after having parked his car. When Des's name was called, we took Des and went into the dentist's room. After greeting the dentist, Dr. Lee, I put Des onto 'the chair' (wonder if there's name to the dentist's chair?).

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Dr. Lee asked me what was wrong with the little girl's teeth. I told him the 2 inner front teeth of Des were decaying. I told Des to open her mouth wide to let the doctor check. She, without suspecting anything, and smilingly opened her mouth wide and allowed the dentist checked her teeth. I was told dat there 2 swollen parts above the teeth and there might be pus in them. Under the advice of Dr. Lee, the teeth needed to be extracted to prevent the germs (or something like dat, I was a bit confused then) from spreading to the rest. Oh goodness me, Des is only 4 and her milk teeth needed to be extracted! But I had no choice but to allow the dentist do what was necessary.

Des opened her mouth wide to let the dentist checked her teeth. The assistant was holding to her hand to prevent her from getting up.

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Dr. Lee, with the help of his assistant (a Malay gril), rubbed some anaesthetic on the gums of Des. He took, what I saw was a sharp object (like a needle) and poked the swollen parts of Des, one after another! And dat was the time Des let out her cries and shouted 'pain pain'! She was struggling and Dr. Lee asked me to help grab Des's hands. I saw blood coming out of Des's mouth. I was thinking 'Oh my God'. After dat, the assistant and I helped Des rinsed and wiped her mouth. She stopped crying when I carried her.

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We had to wait for a few minutes for the anaesthetic to work, after which Des was made to sit back on the chair again. I could sense dat she was scared as her hands were cold. Dr. Lee came with the 'teeth extractor' (or whatever u call it), he opened Des's mouth again not without Des starting to cry. He 'pulled' one of the teeth out. I heard Des shouted 'PAIN PAIN' again! I was at the verge of crying too but guess I held back my tears (too embarrased to cry)! She tried to struggle and Dr. Lee asked me to hold Des's hands while his assistant helped Des back to the chair. Dr. Lee was quick, he opened Des's mouth again and out came the second tooth! A piece of lint was put onto the wound. Goodness me, I felt myself wanting to faint! (I didn't notice the 2 extracted teeth but I was told by Pappy dat they had long 'roots'). Des was oredi crying and screaming! The assistant was so calm and patient. She tried to console Des dat she was a good girl and it was all over. Des grabbed my hands so tightly. I told her it was all over. I could see her upper lips starting to swell. My poor little girl.

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She did sob for a little while and the dentist praised her for being a brave girl. I held her tightly and praised her for being a good girl.

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I know it'll sound silly to give this piece of advice but it was the info which I gathered from the dentist and I hope parents who bottle feed their kids do take heed: Do take notice and care of ur kids' teeth even when he cuts his very 1st tooth. After every meal of milk, do take the initiative to rinse his mouth or by giving him water to drink if he's still a very small baby. If he's old enough, make sure he brushes his teeth after meal and the most important if he's still on bottle feeding. Not all kids' teeth are strong and too sad and late to know dat Des's teeth are of the easily decaying type. (Des, mommy's very sorry for not taking note of ur teeth)

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To Destinee: U are Pappy's and Mommy's brave little girl! *muahmuahmuah*