The Dentist's Office

A week or so before Maya's appointment to do some dental work last month, she drew this picture. She is still somewhat limited in her expressive communication skills, but getting better every day. She had been saying she wanted to go to the dentist's around this time, which we were happy with since she isn't always able to describe what is bothering her. When she started talking about it we already had the appointment day and time set for some time because she got the exam before anything was really bothering her and the dentist recommended general anesthesia and quite frankly, we couldn't see doing it any other way. The anesthesiologist only comes out once a month so we had to schedule it more than a month ahead of time. (Just as a side note, you know it is going to be pricey when the pediatric dentist tells you, "Yeah, he's really good. There are only about five guys in the valley that do it, so he comes out once a month and we try to schedule all the appointments then.") So about a week before the visit, she drew this picture and told us it was her at the dentist's office. Notice that she circled one of the teeth . It turned out when the dentist got in there, one of her teeth was infected and he was quite sure that was the one she circled in her picture. Poor thing-at the time she drew it we couldn't make the appointment happen any sooner.

She was good about getting the little shot that put her out. It was very strange to see her eyes glass over when the medication kicked in. The dentist said he thinks she grinds her teeth, maybe in her sleep, and that may have contributed to some of the damage. Anyway, after all was said and done, he had to do everything he thought he would have to do. He even cleaned, sealed her molars and took x-rays while she was out.

After he was done, she was out of it for quite awhile. She sort of came to in the car on the way home and then cried off and on for about an hour saying, "The dentist! I need the dentist!" She had been under the whole time, so she didn't think the dentist had fixed her teeth and she was mad. Once she came around a little more, I was able to show her the teeth he fixed and explain it to her better. She was pretty much back to normal by the afternoon, except that her teeth were a little sore for about 24 hours or so. It was quite an ordeal but we are glad to have her in better shape now.