Matty’s dentist appointment

I was so proud of Matt yesterday afternoon.  The dentist is always very traumatic but he did so well.  We still had to put him on the cradle board.  And he still puked all over the dental assistant.  But he let the dentist do what he needed to.  He talked to the dentist.  I was amazed.

When we got into the room Matty sat on the very edge of the dental chair.  When the dentist came in Matt tells him, “I want to go home.”  Dr. dH was so good to him.  He told Matt that he could go home as soon as he made sure there weren’t any cavities in his teeth.  The dentist then asked if he was ready to sit back on the dental chair.  Matty tells him, “I want to sit in that chair!”  He then walked across the room to the chair in the corner and sat as far back in it as possible. 

I have to say that at this point I am in total awe that my shy quiet child, around strangers, is talking to this man.  He is TALKING to him!!!

The dentist left to get the two assistants and the cradle board. Dr. dH put the board on the table and asked Matt if he was ready to go.  Matty actually climbed up there!!  I had to help a little since his balance isn’t so hot but he went on his own.  We told him we would put him in a snug blanket, so he didn’t fight it when we cinched the straps.  What eases me is that the straps are velcro, so if he really wanted out he could get out. 

I stood at the end of the chair and rubbed his legs and talked to him while the dentist did his work.  Matty had no problems letting him brush his teeth.  He even kept on talking to the dentist.  He talked about going home.  He mentioned the tv on the ceiling a couple of times.  He asked about Lauren twice.  He asked where I was about 10 times because he couldn’t see me.  He gagged a few times but after telling him to swallow he did fine. 

He did so well that the dentist told one assistant to put away the big suction hose.  They wouldn’t need it.  Talk about counting the chicks before they are hatched!!

Next up was counting the teeth and making sure each one was looking good.  This is when that gag reflex balked and up came the puke.   The doctor asked for the big suction hose and apologized to the assistant for having her put it away.  Even though Matty was intermittently puking he still did extremely well.  And the vomit was projectile so it didn’t get him at all.  The dentist was also washing his face a little with a cold rag while counting teeth in the other hand.  We had no choice but to put a clamp in his mouth to hold it open so he could do this. 

It wound up being a 15 minute check up.  We skipped flouride so as not to traumatize him further.  Plus he didn’t really need it.  His teeth look fantastic.  He has 5 baby teeth left.  One is loose right now.  I’m sure he’ll eat it with the rest of the ones he has lost.  I’m so jealous that he only brushes once a day for less than a minute and has amazing teeth. 

The dentist congratulated us on a good healthy set of teethers and told Matt he could go home.  Matty ran out the door

Usually after the dentist Matty breaks out all over in hives but this time he didn’t.  He just got those red spots from nerves (like heat rash) across his shoulder blades.  This morning he even asked to use the toothbrush from the dentist instead of his Surround toothbrush. 

So he is good until next year!!