first trip to dentist

[Thepuddingchef]

Hi, I took my ds to his first dentist appointment this morning, he's 2.2 yrs old. I thought I'd talked about it enough, we got there really early so he settled and wasn't scared about being somewhere new, not that it ever bothers him normally, we got to the dentist room and he went hysterical almost immediatly.The dentist was absolutly brilliant, he tried everything, even taking him outside, made him a paper aeroplane, but nothing would calm him down. I had my teeth checked while he stood and watched from outside the room, but was very glad to leave, and seemed to recover almost straight away, once leaving. Has anyone had this experience, and did it get better? And does anyone have any ideas which have worked for them?

You could try sitting in the dentist chair, while he lies on top of you! Might just give him the confidence boost he needs to open his mouth "to show the dentist all your lovely teeth" Chances are the dentist will do no more than just look, count the number of teeth erupted, and then he can have a bravery sticker or whatever they do at your surgery. Allow him to hold a favourite toy or cuddly while he is showing his teeth off.

Took DS (2.3) a couple of months ago. He literally showed the dentist his teeth for all of 5 seconds, then got upset and kept going 'all done finished' when the dentist was checking my teeth. Dentist thought it was quite good for a first visit. Sorry no real advice!

Thanks for your replies....I just feel awful that I have put him thro this, and I thought I had prepared him....obviously not!
Girlywhirly, I did think about putting him on top of me, thing is i'm 37 weeks pregnant and huge, not sure there would have been the room
I'm not sure where to go next really, do I try again in a few weeks or leave it longer?
take dh with me, or perhaps that would make him worse?
Do you think this an unusual reaction?

There's a Topsy and Tim visit the dentist ladybird book...I bought it for dd before we went and she couldn't wait. Loved it. Weird child.

I have taken dd and ds with me to my dental appointments since they were a few months old and dd (4 1/2) has only opened her mouth for the dentist properly the last 2 times - so she would have been 3/3 1/2 (before that I had to try to pry her mouth open). DS (1 1/2) has only been to 1 appointment and wouldnt open his mouth at all but after a few visits I am sure he will be more like dd. I always started by letting them sit on my knee but dd has now graduated to sitting in the chair by herself.

Not unusual at all, Puddingchef. My DS had first appointment where he just smiled at the dentist, so that's all he managed to see! at about 2.5, next visit at 2.11 he sat on me and opened his mouth, as nothing bad had happened and he got a sticker, next visit at 3.5 he rushed to get on the chair before me! Then he got a 'ride' as the chair was raised, and opened his mouth with complete confidence.

Did the dentist say come back soon or leave another few months? Leave another 6 if not. Baby pudding might open his/her mouth for the dentist, and your DS might follow suit! Not to be outdone by a baby iyswim. Good luck with baby. You could play dentists, counting teeth, putting your fingers in his mouth, pushing his lips out of the way, etc as a dentist does. At least you can play it sitting down!

dd had her first last month as she just turned 2. i had my appointment first, then dh, with dd watching us both then dentist just asked dd's turn. didn't ask her to go in the big chair, she just sat on my knee on a normal chair, dentist knelt infront of her and just said show me your teeth, she smiled and that was about it. i was expecting a full on inspection so was quite worked up, but no, nothing.

i should add, dd is a big peppa pig fan so we made sure she watched the dentist episode a few hundred time in advance ready to say aaaah.

I think I might try the books and Peppa Pig, I don't suppose you know whether its on dvd? I'll have a look on amazon.
Off to play dentists now....thank you!