DS2 and the dentist.

[weebarra]

DS2 is nearly 3. I've taken him along with me and DS1 to the dentist since was tiny.
Last time he refused to open his mouth and the dentist didn't put any pressure on him to do so (quite rightly as far as I'm concerned).
He was seen in nursery a couple of weeks ago by the Childsmile people who put a fluoride coating on - it's a govt thing, we're in Scotland.
He came home saying they had told him his teeth were dirty and sure enough, I got a letter last week saying he needed to go to the dentist. I'm a bit as I do brush his teeth thoroughly twice a day, but I'm not sure what to do if he won't show the dentist his teeth.
None of us have issues about the dentist and I've never spoken negatively about them.

Have you tried turning it into a game?

One of my charges was a bit apprehensive about the dentist when he was the same age as your DS, so I started playing 'dentist' with him when he would look in my mouth and poke around, and then I would have my turn.

We also talked a lot about other animals' teeth as he really liked dinosaurs, sharks etc and what sort of teeth he thought he had. So he ended up going to the dentist and telling them he had dinosaur teeth

The person who applied fluoride to his teeth would have to be a dentist or possibly a hygienist ( after being seen by a dentist). He obviously had no problem with being examined so just tell him that the dentist does the same job as the person who saw him at nursery. Just out of interest did you sign a consent for him to be examined and for treatment with fluoride?

Yes I did, for both DSs. It's a nationwide programme.