I was really hoping that Lizzie’s first dentist appointment would be the stuff that dreams are made of.  After she shed not a tear while getting her 2-year shots, I could easily envision her waltzing right up to the dentist with a smile, hopping into the chair, opening wide, and staying still while they gently cleaned her teeth.  Well, dreams are made to be broken, right?!

I was quickly pulled back into reality when the dental hygienist told me that both JR and I would need to help hold Lizzie down during the cleaning.  Excuse me?  We did as told and held down our screaming, writhing child.  Thankfully it was over quickly, but I think all three of us were scarred from the experience.  The hygienist offered comfort by sharing that we should only have to do this till Lizzie’s three or four – and after that, it would be a piece of cake.  Ummmm, how about I never bring her back here again?  How about that?  We left feeling like there’s got to be a better way.  Surely not all pediatric dentist encourage holding your child down while they undergo a cleaning.  I know taking care of your teeth is important at any age, but is that really the norm?

The pictures below are the before and after shots – hence the smiles on our faces.  The good thing is Lizzie seems to have escaped unscathed (I’m very thankful for the short term memory of a toddler).  Immediately after the dental torture, the dentist walked her over to the toy chest so she could pick one toy.  Lizzie chose three.  In my mind, I dared the dentist and hygienist to stop her.  They didn’t and a tiny part of me felt like we made our point.  Torture my kid and we take all your toys (ok, we take three of your cheap toys, but still…) Take that Mr. Dentist! 🙂