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[personal profile] omahas
Yesterday, Kouryou-chan went in for her six-month review of her teeth since her sledding accident. What we feared might happen did...one of her two broken teeth became infected. Which means it had to come out.


And since it was coming out, I figured we might as well have both come out, since there were significant problems with having a broken tooth remain in one of the two front locations while the other one is empty.

I talked it over with Elfand he agreed with me. I set the date for this morning, since it would mean Elf could take us up there and then take us back before going to work...there was no way I wanted to drag Kouryou-chan back from this by bus.

So this morning we got there a few minutes late, Kouryou-chan still very sleepy and in jammies because she was up late last night due to a nasty cough that will not go away, and had her up the night before. Consequently, not only was she disturbed part of last night because of the cough, but since I let her sleep late yesterday morning, she wasn't even particularly sleepy when it was time for bed. All of which combined for an absolutely grumpy Kouryou-chan and the worst possibly mood for a tooth extraction...especially for a four-year-old.

At first things seemed to go pretty well. She was willing to open her mouth and allow the assistant to put the numbing gel on her gums. Unfortunately, the assistant only got the first amount on. Then Kouryou-chan absolutely refused to open her mouth...no amount of cajoling, deal-making, or manipulating ('these are your choices') would do it. Finally, I had to do something I rarely ever have to do with her...I had to make her do what was necessary. Usually this only happens at bedtime, when she sometimes absolutely insists that she wants to sleep in our bed, and we absolutely insist that she will not. Tears and crying ensue, and physical manipulation of body parts into the appropriate bed is sometimes necessary. But it only results in a grumpy and unhappy Kouryou-chan.

This was entirely different. This was a terrified Kouryou-chan. Frightened and uncertain of what was happening, despite discussions about it (how do you discuss this with a four-year-old, anyway?). And it only got worse. When we had to insert the needle and give her the anesthetic for the actual extraction, she wouldn't cooperate either. It required the assistant holding her head, me holding her hands and lying against her lower body, and the dentist leaning against her shoulder while inserting the needle. Kouryou didn't feel any pain...pain wasn't the problem. It's a pity that they can't produce a medicine to make the terror go away, too.

Talking to her calmly, telling her it would be all right, caressing her, kissing her, this calmed her at times throughout the procedure. After the needle shot, I held her for a while and read books to her to calm her down and give time for the anesthetic to work. Unfortunately, I was incredibly dizzy-headed by then because I'd taken by meds a little early and without any food or drink (other than water). This will always allow my meds to hit my stomach and my system hard, and one of the parts of my system my meds, especially the Gabitril, messes up, is my sight. So I had a hard time reading to her.

The actual extraction itself went so quickly that she didn't even realize the first tooth had come out...which didn't make getting her mouth open for the second one any easier. But since both were already broken, they both came out very fast. Which was fortunate for me (and maybe others outside of the room we were in) because I doubt I'd have been able to listen to Kouryou-chan screaming in terror much longer if they didn't.

You're probably wondering "where's Elf through all of this?" Elf was not there...and for good reason. Elf has a serious problem with dental events such as this...which is the reason we're taking the teeth out now, instead of them having come out when she broke them the first time. I had a doctor's appointment when that decision had been made before, and Elf was left to support Kouryou-chan and make it through the extraction. And he just couldn't do it...he was probably in as bad a shape as she!
Me...I've never had that much of a problem with dental events, even like this...though I've never seen a tooth extraction before. I usually react to stuff like that with fascination. But with Kouryou-chan it was much harder. Seeing your little girl sobbing and screaming in terror, even for a little while, even knowing it was for a good reason, and knowing you are part of the terror event...well, it kind of makes you feel like a terrorist, I guess.
But at least now she will get a visit by the tooth fairy a little earlier than expected. She's already looking forward to the event. :)

Date: 2004-06-22 06:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] swirlgrrl.livejournal.com
*hugs and kisses and cuddles* to her. Next time I come over I will get her a stuffed bear.

Date: 2004-06-24 05:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pondside.livejournal.com
That was really tough for ALL of you. I'm sorry!

Hopefully this won't be something that sticks with her. My childhood dentist didn't believe in needles - figured it was just as easy to do the work and get you finished. (easy for whom I would have asked if I had been able)

big virtual hugs to her

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