The Bad Tooth

My little girl had a bad tooth… it got infected and had to be removed.

While I wasn’t there with her to hold her hand and tell her that she was going to be okay, her mother made sure that things went as smooth a possible. When they got there, my daughter was introduced to an array of things inside the dentist office so that she felt comfortable with her surroundings.

When it was time to numb the area, she got into the chair and followed the dentist’s instructed as much a brave little 5-year-old could do. She sat still with her head up high. She opened her mouth with enough confidence that the numbing stuff she was about to taste wasn’t going to be bad. And after a bit, when the tingling in her jaw started to get more intense, she sat tall, even as that needle was slowly approaching her maw. She did it! She took that shot like a big girl.

Then the dentist stepped out for a moment. Now she just had to wait a bit longer.

My wife kept talking to her, reassuring her so that when the time came, she was more than ready to take those pliers head-on!

Then the dentist walked back in, startling my little girl. Her grip on the chair’s arms tightened and her eyes grew big. Was it time already?

No.

The dentist was simply restocking a shelf and my daughter let out a silent breath. She was ready but not that ready. After the dentist exited the room again, my wife told her that she should relax a bit. Once things get started, it shouldn’t take that long at all.

Just then, the door opened again and the now “evil” dentist (who was a very nice person upon introductions), strode back in with more things to stow away. My wife could instantly tell that the anticipation was starting to eat at what nerves my daughter had remaining.

Just as Dr. Evil Dentist was about to leave, yet again, my wife spoke very blatant. She said that the next time she walks into this room it had better be with the sole intention of removing that bad tooth. Dr. Evil Dentist peered over my wife’s shoulder at my daughter as she sat taut to the chair. When she realized that she was playing with a little girl’s fragile state of mind, she quickly apologized and said that she’ll get to work immediately.

In all, the operation was all of 5 minutes and my daughter came out of it unscathed… well, minus a tooth, but overall, in good spirits. I’m just upset that I wasn’t there to play Super Daddy to her foil, Dr. Evil Dentist.

But Super Mom was!