Dentist

We took care of the dental cleaning, then had pals over to hang out and swim.  No big deal, a totally normal summer thing to do…but this is one of those things that may seem small, but it is indeed something we worked very hard to accomplish.

Michael can now go to the dentist’s office, sit in the chair, follow the simple commands to open and close his mouth while leaving the rest of his body perfectly still.  It’s something we all do when we go for our annual cleaning, but for a kid with sensory issues and anxiety, it is a challenge to say the least!

How?

At the start, we got the names of two different dentists.  Both were recommended by a few folks we knew with special needs kids. I called each office and asked what their methods were.  The first dentist’s office said that they used straps to secure the kids into the dental chair. For me, that was a hard no. I just felt that Mikey would be frightened by that and I thought it might make any aversion to the dentist worse. Plus, I figured we might get that to work ONCE – until he realized that he needed to fight to stay out of the chair. (Note: this is not a judgement on parents who need to do this – our kids need their teeth, and I know one size doesn’t fit all for special kiddos).

The second office seemed more appropriate for Mikey.  They had Mikey come in, sit in the cleaning chair and they basically just brushed his teeth on the first visit to get him used to it. Then, they gave them a coin and he used it to pick out a prize from those toy machines that used to be in the supermarket (the old ones had gumballs, but the ones at the dentist’s office had mini toys like bouncy balls).  Then, on each subsequent visit, we built up trust and the dentist was able to do more and more.

At First

Okay, so it still wasn’t all sunshine and roses. It was hard.  The sensations and sounds and experiences of a dentist visit are almost universally dreaded by all human beings.  I went to the office visits dressed it workout gear.  I used to need to hold Mikey’s hands still during the portions of the visit when they would use any of the sharp tools, even the scraping tools they use for plaque removal.  This was for his safety and the safety of the dentist. I would leave the office drenched in sweat. It was stressful and physical, but at least Mikey didn’t need to get strapped to a chair. I could remove my hands from his whenever it was safe and I tried to do so often throughout the visit.

Cavities

At a very young age, Mikey had three or four cavities.  He was (and is) a teeth grinder which wears away the protective enamel on his teeth. Plus, he’s a candy-lover.  Not great.  He was too young to understand Novocain.  He would have completely bitten up the inside of his numb mouth.  We needed another plan. 

Hospital

Our dentist suggested a hospital visit with dental work under general anesthesia. I was nervous since Mikey had not had anesthesia before, but it ended up being fantastic.  It alleviates the need for Novocain shots in the mouth because the patient is asleep during the fillings.

Still?

No, it isn’t practical to head to the hospital and get knocked out every time you need a cavity filled (unless that’s the only way you can get the cavity filled).  I wanted Mikey to learn to handle it in the dentist’s office.  We used ‘laughing gas’ to help get him calm.  It was a bit of a rocky road the first time he needed Novocain – he did end up biting the inside of his mouth and getting an infection for which he needed antibiotics.  It was bad, but he didn’t need Novocain again until recently and the dentist encouraged me to give it another try. We tried it and Mikey did just fine.

Cleanings

Mikey’s cleanings have progressed gradually over time and last week, he had one that seemed almost identical to mine.  They used the plaque scraper, the electric buffer and they gave him a fluoride treatment at the end.  Instead of the tray filled with fluoride, they brushed it on his teeth for him. No eating or drinking for half an hour and voila, Mikey had completed his dentist’s office responsibilities for the next six months.

And…NO CAVITIES!! Woot, woot!

Desensitization

Slowly, steadily, get your child used to visiting the dentist.  You need to be calm, positive and reassuring before, during and after the visit. Step by step, the kids get more capable, and the dentist can do more and more. Find a professional you feel comfortable with by asking for recommendations on your local Facebook group. Then, ask the dentist’s office lots of questions like what to expect. Finally, reward your child for their cooperation with praise, stickers, prizes…whatever.  This is a toughie, but you can do it!

For more on oral hygiene habits at home, click the link below.

For more on the idea of getting the chore done first and then following it up with something fun, click the link below.

For this desensitization technique applied to haircuts, click the link below.

What about Wisdom Teeth? Click this link.