My dental practice treats everyone from toddlers to the elderly, and though we have a passion for cosmetic dentistry, children are usually the most fun and interesting patients.

I have had many enlightening experiences as kids surprise me with their perceptions of what is occurring during their dental appointments. After I extracted the tooth of a 7-year-old boy, the mother asked her son as they left our office, “Has your tooth stopped hurting yet?” to which her son replied,”I don’t know. The dentist has it.” In treating young patients I have learned that…

Shots hurt less if you are using sleepy juice in a squirt gun.

Mr. Whistle will chase all the sugar bugs out of a tooth, and Mr. Thirsty will then suck them up so you don’t have to swallow them.

When the buttons on the dental chair are operated by a brother or sister, the ride is much
like one at Six Flags.

Siblings who usually fight and jockey for position become more gracious in a dental office and usually volunteer their brothers or sisters to go first.

The tooth fairy cannot be fooled by a piece of white chalk placed under a pillow.

When explaining brushing and flossing techniques to a child it is best to verify their understanding or else they may be adamant with their parents that the dentist told them that BACON and SODA works just as good as toothpaste.

Some perfectly good teeth do hurt when chewing if they are chewing broccoli, liver, or tofu.

The insights of children so often amaze and humor me and my staff. I have had many a listening adult patient in an adjacent room ask if he could wear the bubblegum nose and breathe the funny gas before he gets a silver star in his tooth. I think kids keep us in check making us stop and take a different look at the world. I am thankful to be blessed with three little comedians of my own and to be part of a dental team that enjoys treating patients of all ages.

Article written by Dr. Cristi Cheek. Dr. Cheek is the owner of Cheek Dental in East Cobb. You may contact her at 770-993-3775 or visit www.cheekdental.com.

Reprinted from EAST COBBER’s April 2016 issue

 

LIKE THIS BLOG? Then you’ll love our newsletter! Click HERE to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and be a neighbor in the know!