Dentist

He was confident that it would sort itself out. I saw that it bothered him but he would tell me it was fine. In recent months, he told me that the school dental nurse would remove it for him. The last few weeks though he decided that we should go to the private dentist. I was glad he finally made that decision. Now I had to find a slot where both he and I would be available to make the visit. 

Today's schedule was disrupted by the heavy rain in the morning. Swimming lessons had to be cancelled and he went through his science revision for Monday's exams instead. I was quite surprised how much he could remember on the diversity of living things. Where he could not remember, his younger sister would give him a hint. Fish had scales on their bodies for instance. We went out for a late lunch after my eldest son finished his chemistry tuition. It was meant to be a quick lunch as the swimming lesson was rescheduled to 3.15pm. 

After lunch, we passed by the dentist and my son reminded me to make an appointment for him next week. I suggested we see the dentist right then since we were already there.  He agreed but felt nervous. He has been to the dentist before, all the kids have. While waiting for his turn, my son asked me whether it would hurt. He asked me whether his elder brother, mother and I have extracted our tooth before. I told him that it would only hurt a little and we have all been through it.

He had overlapping teeth. One of his milk teeth refused to fall off to make way for the permanent tooth. It wasn't painful but he would often try to remove food that got stuck in between. I told the dentist about his condition and she examine the tooth. I thought it was his canine but the dentist confirmed that it was one of his incisors which should have fallen off a year back. He put on his shades and headphones and focused on the TV on the ceiling. I  was sat next to him and held his hand as the dentist injected the local anesthetic. The discomfort caused him to move a little but he remembered what the dentist told him - that if he didn't move, she could do it slowly and that would be less painful. 

Within minutes it was over. He declared to me that he wasn't afraid but could not find a word to describe what he felt. He keeps calm when facing challenges.