dental drama

i adore our pediatric dentist, dr. pike. he has been in pediatric dentistry since the 60's, and the phrase "you've come a long way baby" certainly applies to how he cares for kids. i know a lot of people who take their kids to dr. pike. in fact yesterday we ran into one of my fellow cnm's who has boys ages 11 and 13 while we were there. the waiting room and the dental room are cheerful places and no one is unhappy. gerbils and a treasure chest, video games and a therapy dog.

things were going as swimmingly as usual- until ruby found out she has a cavity. she burst into tears and was sobbing. huge tears and loud wailing. those of you who have seen ruby really sob will understand when i say that she really sobs. dr pike immediately came over to her, got down on his knees and began to talk to her. he opened his own mouth and showed her all his fillings. they had a conversation and soon she was ok. dr pike looked at me in the process and told me that she was likely not upset about the cavity but about her body not being whole. which is for ruby a big big issue. it can be a post institutionalization issue, and in her case its made more dramatic by her personality. ruby is my girl who is incredibly physically cautious. she has never skinned her knee or stubbed her toe. she completely falls apart at the smallest physical injury and always has. it's one of the things we work on all the time.

we'll be heading back to see dr. pike in july to have the cavity filled. i made sure to make our appointment on the day that the therapy dog is in the office.