Kirsten's Dentist Appointment

Kirsten visits the dentist today.
This is a picture of Kirsten. I love her 'happy face!'

The above picture was taken a few months ago. I love it because she has a great big smile! She was also smiling because she had just finished eating her most favorite food - homemade spaghetti! She loves to eat it! If you look closely at the picture you will probably see her 'wearing' it around her face!

I did not have a picture of today's visit to the dentist. I told her today we were going to see her dentist. We have to go to Children's Seattle Dentistry. It takes about one hour to drive there. I always have Neil drive us as I do not like driving anywhere near or in Seattle. The traffic is busy, busy, busy! Anyway, as we got out of the car, she was relaxed and we took a seat in the waiting area. All was well until she heard her name called! Then she got nervous! The best way to seat Kristen is to have her sit in her dad's lap in a chair without side arms. Kirsten faces her daddy and then lays backward in his lap and rests her head in the lap of her dentist. She will not sit in a dentist chair. She freaks! She has abs of steel and sits up so fast and starts to scoot down before you can count to 5!

Considering that Kirsten has been through so much medically in the past 18 years, making her dentist visit as easy as possible really helps! The dentist chair just upsets her and we get no where. So between the dentist and her dad they have set up this 'lap' system and it works beautifully! Today when Kirsten was hugging her dad before she had to lie down, she had a steel trap grip around his neck and he had to 'pry' her hands loose. Isn't that sad? :o( Everyone got through the appointment fine. Zero cavities! The dentist said that her saliva/drool is her teeth's best friend as it keeps her teeth from decaying. Her top row of front 6 teeth all along the very top near the gum line are pure white and the enamel finish is very, very thin and underdeveloped. This area would be the first line of attack for cavities. She doesn't eat junk food and I brush her teeth the best I can. Fortunately she has never had cavities in any of those teeth. She only has 2 fillings, one very small and one medium sized filling and those were on molars. She's had 2 extractions. Kirsten does not have any wisdom teeth and it's a good thing, no room! Her brother David doesn't have any wisdom teeth either! Doug only had the top two and they were removed before he left on his mission several years ago.

Kirsten's appointment lasted for about 10 minutes. It went quick. She had her teeth cleaned and fluoride brushed on them. She gave several comments and used a lot of tongue thrust and lip thrust to discourage the dentist to no avail! She gets' 'E' for effort. When it was all over with she hugged her dad and just heaved a sobbing soft cry for 2-3 minutes. That cry is a heart wrencher! She was a trooper! We go back in 6 months. She was very glad to 'leave' and get in the car and go home! She does have a wonderful dentist! :o)