Monday, May 11, 2009

Kate Goes to the Dentist...again

I have to take Katie-bug to the U of M dental clinic today. We have tried to get her teeth checked at our dentist and also at a pediatric dentist to no avail. She got so hysterical that they couldn't do anything. However, the pediatric dentist could see NINE cavities just by looking into Kate's screaming-open-mouth. She has a classic case of 'bottle rot' from being put to bed with a bottle when she lived in China. Even I can see all the dark holes in her teeth. Ugh...poor baby.

When she was in the hospital, I talked to one of the cardiologists about it and was told that Kate needs to be put under anesthesia to have the work done. The sheer amount of work needing to be done would cause too much trauma to her, so it would be best to be 'put out' for the whole thing. They did not want her to have this done at a dental office--but rather to be at the hospital because of the risk to her heart each time she goes under anesthesia. The doctor said, "That way, if anything should happen, she will be right here and we will be able to handle it."

So...today we are going to try to get a look inside that little mouth. I am taking SaraGrace along and will ask the dentist to pretend to look inside SaraGrace's mouth first. Hopefully, Kate will be less afraid that way. The two times we took her to a dentist, she freaked out the minute they called her back to a room. They learn so fast how to be afraid. :(

Truth be told, I think going to the dentist is right up there with a colonoscopy. Could they make it any less dreadful? I mean, really, couldn't they come up with a less nerve-grating sound then the high pitched whining of the drill? I get the shivers just thinking about it. And I also fail to understand how the entire side of my face can be sliding off my body but the nerves just inside my tooth are not fully deadened. I tried the happy gas one time, but it just made me dizzy, which is too bad because I was going to request that at the gynecologist if it had worked. Years ago, one of my kids' dentists claimed that the gas didn't stop the pain but it made you 'not care about it anymore.' Yeah. Right.

Sorry--no pics of Mother's Day yesterday because we didn't have time before church. Afterwards I had to run an errand and Jeff had the little kids all tucked into bed for their naps when I got home. I just HAD to get out of that uncomfortable dress, so no pictures this year! My sweet husband got me another corsage this year, and yes, it was mangled by the time church was over, but it is the thought that counts!

He had to leave for Boston late in the afternoon and this is how we all felt about saying good-bye to him again.

wah....