Irini's Visit to the Dentist

Last Monday, during that six day weekend we had (below), Laurence snuck to the other side of town to visit the dentist. He took Irini with him. A few weeks ago she broke the bicuspid on the lower left side of her mouth. It hadn't hurt. She didn't even know how it happened, though we assume that it was a middle-of-the-night tooth grinding session. For weeks we flossed the broken tooth, brushed it an even used a small elongated brush (made for between-the-teeth settings) to ensure that the area was as clean as possible. For a while that was okay. Then came the pains. Not many, mind you, but enough to make Irini recognize that a dentist visit might actually be helpful. 

Perhaps at this point we should note that our earlier attempt to get Irini to sit at the dentists office didn't go all that well. 

As we did tooth cleanings on occassion we would have Irini lie down on the bed and use the bedside table lamp to pretend it was the light in the dentists office. We giggled and we pretended we were at the dentist. Irini even got to requesting the dentist service as she grew more comfortable with the idea and the sporadic pains arrived. So, by the time we got to the dentists office she was ready.

Laurence and Irini walked in and Irini wanted to go first (we all agreed), but only if she could sit on daddy's lap. The dentist agreed and moved the chair to a low enough level that Laurence could settle in before picking up Irini and placing her on his lap, both now lying down. The chair moved and they giggled as they were nearly upside down. Giggle, giggle. The doctor took a look and said that a cavity was forming and this particular tooth would probably stay in "until she is 10 or so", so we opted to see if we could do a filling right then and there. He was wonderful in explaining all the steps "we will put this little water sprayer in your mouth and I will count to ten as you feel a little cold in your tooth" and all the parts "and this one will be put in your mouth to suck up the water, like a straw. Here, feel it". Irini listened and put her fingers everywhere she was asked to to feel what it was like and, when she determined that she understood enough, sat back down on daddy's stomach/lap/chest and opened her mouth. 

Daddy spent the next few minutes holding her softly but firmly, expecting a sudden jolt or moment or fear, but Irini's limp little hands curled inside his indicated that she was very calm and relaxed. "Eight, nine, ten", said the dentist and the spray ended. The sucking continued for a while longer. Then there was the filling, also following a short explanation, again to Irini's satisfaction. She sat back, we all counted (except her) to 15 this time and the filling was all set.  The dentist, the assistants, daddy and Irini all smiles brightly. 

Laurence was impressed. Irini was happy. Laurence had his cleaning too (with Irini walking around and popping her head in from time to time to see what the dentist was up to, saying "I want to see") and then, off they went for some frozen yogurt. What else? :-)