Evan first real dental check up

It's been a few weeks now, but Evan had his first "real" dental check up this month.  Prior to this he had just had "happy visits" where he sits in the chair, meets the dentist, and just gets comfortable in the dental office environment.  He cried most of those happy visits because he is so sensitive to new environments that he was scared even though we weren't forcing him to do anything in particular.

Anyway, we really tried to mentally prepare him for this visit.  We practiced him opening his mouth wide.  We had John have his appointment right before him, so he would know Daddy just did it.  But it was a rush to get out of the house that morning for the appointment, especially since John had to leave first thing for his appointment first.  But it worked out just fine, especially because Evan even brushed his teeth all by himself while I was getting Emma ready to go.

When we got there, he was excited to play with the trains on the train table in the waiting room.  When the dental assistant who had just met with John came out to call her next appointment back, she saw Evan and said "that must be Evan."  Evan got stiff and said "I already brushed my teeth, Emma needs to get her teeth checked."  Way to throw your sister under the bus, honey! 

Once he got into his exam, he sat in the chair easily enough, and even let the dental assistant put the bib on him.  And then she asked him to open his mouth wide so she could look in with the mirror.  He did that great too!  In fact, he really let her look around! 

Then it was time to try the polisher.  She turned it on and let him feel it with his finger first, but I could tell he was much more scared all of the sudden.  He did let her put it in his mouth twice, but as soon as she turned it on it tickled him too much and he pulled away.  She then asked to recline the chair and that's when he really got freaked out.  He held onto the chair arms with all his might to not allow himself to lay back with it.  I laid down in the chair and let him lay on top of me, and the dental assistant asked a few times if she could try polishing again, but very quietly he'd say no each time. I could feel his heart racing as I held him so we decided it was time to try something else. So instead we decided it was time for the dentist to come and take a look.  He helped Evan count his teeth, for which Evan really calmed down. As they counted each of his teeth, I could feel his tension release.  And after that, his appointment was done!  He was given a special coin to put in a machine of his choice for a little prize.  Evan was so excited about that, so in the end, all was good.  I consider the appointment a success!

One of the quick times he was getting his teeth polished.