Who Knew That After a Trip to the Dentist You'd End Up With Glasses...

The dentist

*sigh*

Leila LOVES the dentist.

She observes with great passion.

Doesn't keep her eyes off what's happening.

She is fearless.

Good thing she was the one with four cavities.  Not Eden.

(Not that we rejoice over FOUR cavities...)

Eden HATES the dentist.

Anxiety, fear, terrible distrust...for that dumb x-ray machine.

Thank goodness she's got amazing teeth and no cavities.

We went to the family dentist nearby not too long ago.  We had been been a few times before without too much issue.  But Eden had learned that putting those x-ray things in your teeth is a little painful and uncomfortable.  Apparently it was painful enough that she remembered it and had severe anxiety over it.

It was like she TRIED to open her mouth but her mouth just wouldn't open.  At least not wide enough for the dental assistant to get it in there.

They told her she didn't need to get the x-rays this time (she'd HAVE to next time) but then Eden had more fear of "What if there IS a cavity and I get a toothache and the pain is even WORSE?!"  It was a horrible experience with her tossing back and forth on if she could do the x-rays or not.  So much that they told us to take her a pediatric dentist so she didn't end up with such a bad experience at the dentist that she never wanted to return again.  The pediatric dentists are used to children and make it all much more enjoyable.

Then Leila's turn came.  She had a cavity the last time we went....and it fell out.  They had put it in a second time, and it fell out a second time.  They felt that the cavity was starting to get larger since it keeps falling out and doesn't do any good.  So , they recommended that I also take her to a pediatric dentist because they didn't want to numb up her small mouth.  They'd rather they do it.

I set up an appointment with the pediatric dentist.

And bribed Eden.

Glasses.

She's been BEGGING me for glasses that LOOK real but don't have real glass in them.  I took Eden to the eye doctor with me a while ago and found out that Claire's is the place to go for children who WANT glasses (and don't need them) without paying the price of glasses.

We looked at Claire's to make sure they had what we wanted, then I made a deal.

The day before the dentist, Eden was a nervous wreck.  She's randomly think about the dentist and burst into tears or shaking.  Someone would bring up the dentist and she's start getting really defensive and upset and cry.

The next day I took her in early to get a small tour of the dentist office and to take her time getting used to everyone.

Leila was thrilled to be there.

It took some time and a few dental assistants, but she did a complete check up, even with x-rays.  She didn't even try.  It took a bit of time and convincing, but she did it.

Leila was a champ.

A champ with four cavities.

We had to schedule a different time to go in with Leila for her appointment.  I told her that she gets a "bravery reward" as well if she does an awesome job.  She wants to go out to eat.  That's no surprise.  That girl LOVES going out to eat.  I warned her that she wouldn't be able to eat for a while after she went to the dentist, she's OK with that.

And now Eden wears her glasses everywhere with pride.