tyler needed a filling

I took Tyler to the dentist for his first check-up about 6 months before he turned 4. They called it a "Happy Visit" and they simply looked in his mouth and showed him all the tools. He liked getting a new toothbrush and getting to choose a toy from the tooth-shaped treasure chest. It was a visit without incident.

We returned 6 months later, right around when he turned 4. This time they did a cleaning and the dentist checked out his teeth as she would a regular, adult visit. That was when she told me that my baby boy needed a filling! She said it as if it were no big deal. She told Tyler he would get to watch a movie on the ceiling while she "tickled" the sugar bug out of his tooth. I have never before had a single filling, so to me this was big. How could she act so calm about the whole thing? How could my little boy have a cavity? We brush his teeth all the time!

I decided she must be wrong. I took Tyler to a special, much more expensive, not covered by insurance Pediatric Dentist for a second opinion. Sure enough, Tyler needed a filling. Oh dear. The worst part is that he was actually looking forward to the whole thing. How could I tell him that it would not be a fun event?

When the big day came, I was as nervous as if it were happening to me. But, being the mommy, I had to act calm and happy so my little man wouldn't be nervous too. That was hard for me to do. Luckily, he couldn't see the tears I had when they were injecting the novacain into the back of his mouth. My brave boy did not even flinch. The doctor said he did better than most of her adult patients. He seemed so relaxed as he watched his movie on the ceiling, wearing his headphones and bubble gum scented gas mask. I could easily picture his guardian angel sitting beside him, making sure he was safe and not afraid. The dentist was done so quickly and Tyler was disappointed that it was already time to go. His movie wasn't over yet.

I am so thankful that this was not a bad experience in his life. Hopefully he won't go through life fearing the dentist. Hopefully, it will be his only filling. If it's not, at least I know that he will handle it much better then his mommy ever would.