Oh dear. Mateo was being a helper on Monday by carrying a Christmas tin up the basement stairs. At the top of the stairs he tripped landing face-first on top of the tin and cried, "Owa nose, owa nose". Once the tears subsided he brushed his teeth to get ready for naptime and said, "Owa tooth". Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Indeed, he did chip one of his front teeth, and all of his Mommy's childhood dental nightmares swooped in.
Today was his first visit to the dentist. Daddy and Mommy took advantage of the four days in between to be enthusiastic about the dentist. We explained how he's right next door to the library, and how it's his job to look at people's teeth, and we went over the "say ahh" routine. It seemed to work - Mateo was EXCITED to go to the dentist. We got there early and played with the toys and mastered the water machine. When his name was called he walked back (cautiously) to "the big chair", sat on Mommy's lap and watched cartoons. He opened his mouth for the dentist nicer than he ever has for his parents. It was all good until... the noise.
The dentist wanted to round off a sharp point on that chipped tooth, and once he started up that whirring little grinder Mateo freaked out. I felt so horrible holding his little arms against his body and he was kicking and struggling and screaming, and the hygienist was holding his head the best she could. When it was over Mateo calmed down, blew his nose on a tissue and handed it to the hygienist, who then led him to the toys. He picked out a bouncy ball, helped himself to another glass of water (his fourth, I think) and off we went trying to focus on the positive. From there we went to the bank where he informed the receptionist, "No like that noisy."
