Recently, I had some dental work done. A crown was placed on a tooth after the tooth cracked a third of itself down the middle. I looked in my mouth and thought, “Oh my gosh, I’ve blown it… root canal here we come.” Fortunately I went straight to the dentist. He was able to save the tooth, crown it, and now it’s in very good shape. I have been going to this dentist – Dr. Thomas Tam in the United Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong – since 1996 when I first arrived in Hong Kong. Of all the dentists I’ve had, he is by far the best. I have referred many people to him from general inquiries to business emergencies when visitors have been in town. He even has a cool Goggle Video Set that allows you to watch movies while having your mouth drilled and cleaned. The most recent round of work allowed me to watch the latest James Bond film in two sittings.
I’ve been telling Sebastian for months that soon he would go to the dentist. I am one of those people who procrastinate when it comes to dentists and maybe I delayed with Sebastian a bit, too. Tess and I recently went out to dinner with friends and I asked one of them, “When did you first take your kids to the dentist?”
“When they were two and a half!” she piped back. “And where are you going on your month long holiday?” I quickly inquired to change the conversation.
I have been telling Sebastian for soooo long, and he has been repeatedly asking me about it for so long, that soon the visit would become an integrity issue: if I didn’t get Sebastian to the dentist by the start of his summer vacation, my name would be “mud” and the tooth fairy would arrange a root canal. Therefore, the day finally came, today. I nipped out of work for an early lunch and took Sebastian for his first dental visit. You’ve heard the stories of how he has a propensity to whine and whinge and get upset and not sit still. Do you think a dental visit would provoke that type of behavior? NOT AT ALL! Our little Sebastian was amazing – the epitome of best behavior. So much so, that I think those 45 – 55 minutes might have been the most mature thus far of his little life.
We walked in and as coached, Sebastian greeted the dentist, “Hello, Dr. Tam!” With indifference Sebastian shrugged off completing the “First Time Patient” form until I asked him to fill in the “Other Name” section. He did that willingly and perfectly. Dr. Tam walked Sebastian through every step of the session, explaining all the instruments and testing them on his skin or fingernails. Dr. Tam described how the air blower tickled and the water sprayer thing sprayed and the Captain Hook instrument helped clean his teeth. Turns out Sebastian had a slight chip off one of his molars, (better than his shoulder!) probably from one of his nasty falls that produced stitches. Left alone this slight indentation would eventually decay; therefore, Dr. Tam suggested a little etching and smoothing over of the imperfection with dental stuff. Including the cleaning and procedure, Sebastian was in the chair for about 50 minutes. Wow – I had never seen a more cooperative Seb! Throughout the procedure we were giving each other simulated high fives, thumbs ups, smiles and of course, both Dr. Tam and I praised Sebastian plenty because… he truly was really patient and wonderful. Every once in a while Sebastian winced or frowned with whatever was happening in his mouth, but he quickly rebounded. At the end of the session Dr. Tam gave Sebastian a dental balloon – a rubber glove blown up like a balloon.
I was so impressed with Sebastian that afterwards, without hesitation, I let him go to McDonald’s with De for lunch and ice cream after they dropped me back off at work. “But you have to brush your teeth when you get home if you have ice cream,” I instructed. Later in the afternoon Tess and I spoke on the phone. Tess described how in the middle of watching TV (on our new flat screen) while Tess packed a few feet away, Sebastian suddenly blurted out, “I have to go!”
“Where?” Tess asked in surprise.
“To brush my teeth,” Sebastian exclaimed with glee, “because I had ICE CRRREAM!” he said as he darted out of the room.
I don’t think Sebastian’s first dental visit could have gone any better.
Reader interactions
18 Replies to “Could it have gone better?”
Sebbie! You da man! I am so proud of you and I bet the dentist has never had such a good patient as you. You are also an amazing role model for your triplets when they too go to the dentist for the first time. And your printing was excellent – well done!
I love you, Seb.
Your Mo xox
I took my boy to the dentist for the first time not too long ago and was happily pleased at how well he did too. Got a little choked up on the suction wand (“Mister Thirsty” hahaha) but otherwise was a star patient. Kudos to Seb!
WOW, how dentists have changed! I remember in the mid 1950s, they were terrifying … tears and tantrums all the way!
Michele sent me.
Cheers
good job, seb! sagan’s got to go for his first visit soon. do you think you could talk him through it, what with you being an old pro now and all?
way to go seb! gotta love when somethign so potentially unpleasant goes so wel. and he may help pave the way for the trips when it is their turn. he can tell them…no big deal!
Great story–my daughter inherited her father’s fear of dentists and on her first visit had to be physically restrained. We let up once and she got up and ran out of the room. This was a young dentist who was suppose to be good with kids. I later took her to my dentist (who was old and nearing retirement and not taking on any more patients). I had told him the story and he suggested he be given a chance and he walked her through it and to this day she doesn’t mind dentist. BTW, Michele says hi. It’s been a while since I’ve been to your site, glad to see things are well in HK.
Brilliant! Well told- an amusing story. Makes me want to brush my teeth too, now!
And Hello, Michele sent me!
rashbre
Thanks for the visiting me, Charles. You are welcome always.
You are also welcome to my country. Some 15 years back I used to live almost next to Hyatt Regency. It was kind of built in front of us!
Though it is the Monsooons but Delhi has almost no rains. You will like Bangalore best. And Mumbai..that’s another story.
Gee, I am sorry. I go on and on.
PS: You can buzz me before you arrive in Delhi.
What a brave little man Seb is – and what grown up printing…..
Michele sent me to see how Seb got on with his first dentist visit…
cq
You look like you had a good dentist there!
Michele sent me.
That’s great – so many dentist visits don’t end up so happily…
I looked at your previous post as well. I LOVE Deep Forest – my husband bought me the cd. I watched an interview of Matt – I think he’s great for taking a dream and running with it. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by via Michele. 😉
You’ve laid a solid foundation for his future, Charles: liking the dentist early on sets the tone for so many other touchstones of childhood and growing up.
We’re blessed to have found an amazing pediatric dentist here in London. The kids adore him, and have become quite the ardent brushers because of it. Makes my heart swell…as did your entry.
Hello, Michele sent me.
I haven’t found a good dentist but it definitely sounds like you have and good for Sebastian, too.
Sounds like a great dentist and a great child! Michele sent me.
Thanks for the comment, Charles. You’re right about a toy to make muffins. Here’s what mine looks like:
http://utenzi.blogspot.com/search/label/muffin%20maker
It’s fast and easy to clean but only makes 3 at a time.
Soo difficult to find a good dentist in hk and this one sounds excellent! Hope little Seb keeps the good habit of tooth brushing after ice cream;)
Great post, Charles.
Holy Smokes! That’s amazing! The way Seb was hurrying to the bathroom to brush his teeth is funny. Him visiting the dentist for the first time is really great. You’re really blessed with good and cooperative people in your life.