Three strikes

Three strikes and you’re out.  Isn’t that the way it is supposed to go?  That is how it had gone by 1:40 this pm.  And I was feeling like an ogre.  I suggested that since the first three attempts to work had ended up pretty much as failures that I should go home.  My office manager said I don’t think so!”

The first child was autistic.  His aunt brought him because his mother “knew” he wouldn’t behave for her.  He was not doing too badly but his patience with us only lasted about 15 minutes.  I guess we’ll have to do him in the OR under GA.   Just too much auditory and tactile stimulus associated with dental work.  It just seems such a lot of risk to put a kid through for a simple one surface filling and a couple of sealants.  I wish that I could get him in on a few more occasions and work with him till we could at least get his teeth cleaned in the office.  And I wish his mom wasn’t so negative – she is fairly terrified herself and so sure that it will all be a horrible experience for him.

The next child was 11.  He was just bad, but I suspect some other things may be going on in his mind.  Or maybe very little is going on in there. His poor mother – she had to bring him in by herself since the kid’s dad did not show up to bring him.  So, in comes mom with an infant, a couple of toddlers and this unruly 11 year old.  She clearly has her hands full.  So, expecting a lot of help from her is out of the question.  The boy won’t even get in our chair.  He actually only has a loose baby tooth but of course he won’t try to wiggle it out himself.  In fact, I try to make some kind of eye contact with him to explain what he can do for himself and he turns away and walks off as I am speaking. 

The third child is so little.  He doesn’t want to be in my chair either but he is small enough to hold.  So, lying him back, head in the crook of mom’s elbow, we check out the 19 month old child’s teeth. He’s not in as bad shape as some – only needs a couple small fillings and, if the fluoride varnish fails to arrest the decay in the front teeth, the top four teeth extracted.  I’ll be seeing him again on a sedation morning, maybe in June since that is how far in advance we are booking these appointments. At least he is not in pain and his young mom is weaning him to a cup.  For him there may be hope.

And now it seems to be getting better.  The little girl now waiting to get numb, will have all of her work done after today’s appointment.