It was a bit tough getting her in the door of the waiting room but she quickly started playing. The real drama started when the hygienist called her name. Lillian would not move. So I picked her up and we went back to the room. The hygienist was real nice and patient and got Lillian to calm down with talk about princesses and prizes for being good.
A little back story - last Thursday Lillian fell and hit her mouth on the armrest of the chair very hard. There was blood and lots of tears and screaming. When it happened, her teeth appeared to be fine and since we already had an appointment for today we decided to wait and see.
I told the hygienist about the fall and Lillian filled in the details for me. Lillian was very concerned that the hygienist and dentist were not going to be gentle on her hurt teeth. Once the gentle and big girl discussion was over, Lillian did pretty good for the rest of the appointment. She got her teeth cleaned and X-rays. They barely had to scrape her teeth at all! She does have very deep grooves in her molars that could be an easy target for cavities as she gets older. The X-rays should healthy adult teeth and good placement.
The dentist could see trauma to the ligaments on her front teeth and some swelling and one tooth is a bit wiggly. We are supposed to watch for signs of dying - discoloration, a bubble on the gum, increased pain and swelling. If it does start to die, it will need to come out. The dentist said it was a 50/50 chance. She has teeth much worse that she knew would have to come out and they healed and other teeth that don't look so bad that do need to come out. Her own daughter had the same thing happen at 3 years of age and developed anabscess at the age of 5 and needed to have the tooth removed. If it doe shave to come out, it should not affect her adult tooth or placement of the rest of her adult teeth. So we get to lookforward to worrying about this tooth for a long time apparently!
After the appointment, Lillian got 2 tokens to use to pick out prizes. She got an elephant ring and a bracelet. She even got very upset when I told her the dentist said we did not have to brush her teeth tonightbecause of the fluoride varnish they applied to her teeth! I guess we have drilled in the concept of the "sugar bugs" drilling holes in teeth while she sleeps if she doesn't brush!
A bit nervous and upset. But she mathces the chair!
X-ray time!
Cleaning time. Lillian liked the brush because it was pink and purple but did not like the taste of the toothpaste.
The cool sunglasses she got to wear so the light would not get in her eyes.
