First Visit to the Dentist

Today Emma made her first visit to the dentist. I wasn't sure what to expect from her or the visit, but it went fantastic.

Because of Emma's heart defect, she is at risk of developing bacterial endocarditis. Endocarditis occurs when bacteria grow on the edges of a heart defect or on the surface of an abnormal valve after the bacteria enter the blood stream, most commonly from dental procedures but also from procedures involving the gastrointestinal or urinary tract. Once the bacteria infect the inner surface of the heart, they continue to grow
producing large particles called vegetation that may then break off and travel to the lungs, brain, kidneys andskin. The continuing infection may also seriously damage the heart valve on which the vegetations have grown. Pretty huh? So, patients with heart defects and murmurs are required to pre-medicate (take a heavy dose of antibiotic) right before going to the dentist.

So anyhow...Emma felt comfortable right away, enjoying the large fish tank in the waiting room and their collection of children's toys. When it was her turn to go back, I was so impressed with how she just followed the hygienist on back, eagerly picked out a cool new toothbrush and climbed into the chair. I could tell that she was nervous, but she did great. The exam room had 4 chairs and was decorated in an ocean theme with fish everywhere, even on the ceiling. Very kid friendly. Emma requested that she not put the chair all the way back and the hygienist was great about it. She explained all of her tools to Emma, giving them kid-friendly names and showing her what they do on her finger or hand first. Emma picked out chocolate flavored toothpaste (gag me), berry flavored dental floss, and melon flavored fluoride. She let the hygienist count her teeth, brush them with the spinny toothbrush even though she wasn't so sure about that one at first, and thought it was so neat to spit in the little tiny sink. She even sat while they took an x-ray of one of her molars!

The staff was awesome and were so great with her. Unfortunately she does have a cavity in one of her molars. Honestly, I am surprised it was only one with all the junk food we let her eat :o). She goes back in February to get it filled. That could be interesting. We are not even going to talk about it. It is just a tiny one, but one that needs to be fixed since it is a molar and will be there for a long time.