Mom, Can We Please Go to the Dentist?

That's a pretty unlikely phrase to hear from a 17 year old, but sure enough for the last several years, it's one that Delaney has uttered often. That's all thanks to the amazing staff at the Alberta Children's Hospital Dental clinic.

She's been a patient at the clinic for about 10 years now, and everytime we visit, it's like "old home week." The staff there treat her like an old friend.

It wasn't always that way, though, our first couple of visits were like, well, "pulling teeth." Delaney found it very difficult to relax while the chair was being lowered and positioned, and she was very sensitive to the overhead exam lights. With infinite patience Dr. Cholette and her wonderful assistants were ever so meticulous and gentle as they cleaned Delaney's teeth. After a few visits, I no longer heard Dr. Cholette reminding Delaney, "you're biting my finger."

We had a big hurdle several years ago, as one of Delaney's baby teeth, which was stubborn to fall out, was removed at Dr. Cholette's office. Delaney was very excited to see Dr. Cholette and her staff, and was wonderfully cooperative in taking the pre procedure Midazolam, which not only calmed, but I later found out, had an incredible amnesiac effect.

After very little time in Dr. Cholette's chair, Delaney and I went home, where she relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. After we had been home for a couple of hours, she came fuming up the stairs. With a very "mad face" she said to me "Mommy, you told me we were going to see Dr. Cholette today." I replied, "Delaney, we did see Dr. Cholette, remember you took some medicine and then she removed your tooth?"

"No," she said, growing more agitated with my apparent lack of understanding, "you PROMISED to take me to Dr. Cholette this morning.....and... you... didn't" She's a bit teary by now.

I didn't want to draw attention to the missing tooth, so I ran upstairs to grab the new toothbrush and sticker she had received at her visit. Triumphantly, I returned, and the evidence was irrefutable, "See Delaney, we DID see Dr. Cholette this morning, HERE is your new toothbrush and your sticker."

She mumbled something, took her "loot" and retreated downstairs.

Her most recent visit to Dr. Cholette and her team, was most certainly her favourite visit. As usual, I prompted her to check in at the desk, and I had already reminded her that "no" she would be getting any dental gloves or masks, of course Delaney has a closet full of dressup props.

In the waiting room, we ran into the mom of one of Delaney's buddies. As I chatted with the Mom, one of Dr. Cholette's assistants invited Delaney back to visit with her friend, while the girl had her teeth polished. "Bye Mommy, see you later" and off through the door she trotted.

After brief chat I went to find Delaney. I walked past an exam room where 2 assistants worked on patient. I hadn't gone more than a few steps past the room when I heard Delaney's unmistable chortle. I walked quickly back to the room where I realized that one of the assistants was actually Delaney, fully masked, gowned and gloved, happily holding the suction while the assistant polished Delaney's friend's teeth.

She was in heaven, and was delighted to give all of Dr. Cholette's staff the rest of the day off when each of them remarked that they thought they would go home, after all, Delaney was doing such a fantastic job.

I'm so glad I had my telephone with me, to capture a couple of shots.

What an fabulous team of professionals at that Dental Clinic. It means so much to me that not only does Delaney have access to such amazing dental care, but beyond that, she is greeted with such open and welcoming arms. I'm really at a loss to express my gratitude to all of them.

Delaney will turn 18 on March 13 of 2009. At that time, she is no longer a pediatric patient and we will have to move on to an "adult dentist". I think I might cry. I know that the Calgary Health Region is very fastidious in their training procedure. I wonder if they've covered the use of fake ID. Maybe, just maybe, I could get some for Delaney, maybe even for a year or two.