To go to the dentist or not to go to the dentist...

There are many things in life that I do not like. However, I shall only speak of one of these many things and that would be going to the dentist. It is not my thing. I don't have good teeth. I brush after every meal, floss, etc. and I still get cavities. The last time I went to the dentist was a few years ago. Okay, let's be honest...I haven't been in about five years. I know. It's horrible. My reasoning was that I wasn't in pain so I must be okay. That said, I am a worrier. I like to take care of myself. I like to take care of my body. So in the next month or so I will pray for the courage to seek dental care.

This not going to the dentist thing led to something I am not proud of. Megan hadn't gone to the dentist ever. Oh, I said it was because I couldn't find someone that accepted our insurance but really, I'm scared. Scared that they'll say I have a bajillion things wrong with my teeth or her teeth and that I failed her as a parent. I think if you are a good parent, you never want to do anything that would fail your child. Now, I don't obsess over this or anything. But it was on my mind.

My good husband asked his coworker for a dental referral. We had the name of a dentist in our area. We were told he was good. We were told he was a participating dentist. No, he doesn't just accept the insurance then bill us the remainder of the charges. He actually participates in our network and is covered 100% by insurance. Great! Aaron (that would be my husband) tested this dentist for us. See, Aaron hadn't been to the dentist in years either. Another thing that I felt I was responsible for. Appointment day rolls around and my guinea pig goes in for testing. I was praying very hard that day. "Please don't let him have cavities Lord. Please don't let him have cavities". Yes, I was calling for divine intervention. My husband had never had a cavity in his life and I wasn't about to let it happen now!

Guess what? Husband comes home. Six years of no dental visits and he still doesn't have a cavity in his head. I was so happy! But now, did the dentist fail or pass? He passed with flying colors. Aaron loves the new dentist. Okay, okay! I'm going to be a good mom now. I'm going to make Megan her first dental appointment. But will she have my genetically inferior teeth? Yikes. I make her brush every day. I examine her teeth all the time. I felt safe thinking she was okay in the teeth department. Of course, I didn't make her the appointment. I procrastinated. If she has an appointment then I have to have an appointment. That doesn't work for me.

Well, life sometimes has a way of making you do the things you don't want to do. On Christmas day, my dear little girl had the nerve to bite into a candy cane. There was lots of blood. I don't like blood. I especially don't like blood that is coming from my child. If Aaron's there, I let him handle it. So he did. But then we see that she has a purple mark inside her tooth. No more procrastinating! I called the dental office on December 26th. They weren't open. Phew. Maybe her tooth would be better. Aaron says it is loose. I research and she isn't supposed to loose that tooth until she is 11 or 12.

Alas, I call again on December 28th. The best part of this is that the dentist saw her THAT day. This wasn't exactly an emergency situation. We'd never been there before and he sees her the same day we call. I have to give him credit for that. Even better than that, this dentist is very personable. He was chatting with me and had to be one of the nicest health care professionals I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. The hygienist was wonderful too. It was like dentist heaven. I'd never been to a dentist this nice. But the very BEST part was that Megan was cavity free! Furthermore, her tooth was naturally loose. The candy cane sped the process up but she was just loosing her canines early. He said that it could happen. I will make an appointment for myself very soon. I swear! Maybe I will have some of Aaron and Megan's good luck rub off on me. :)