Nathan went for his dental checkup yesterday, with great anticipation on his part. It was an added bonus because we got to go just the two of us and have some chat time on the way there and back. So, we get to the dentist’s office and N8 makes a beeline for the play area while I savor the moment to check my email on my phone. The staff was just getting back and ready to reopen (they close daily from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch) and N8 was their first patient up. The hygenist opened up the door into the waiting room and called, out, “Naaate?”. At first, I didn’t even react. I am not really used to anyone else calling him Nate other than family and close friends. But, when I finally realized they were asking for him, I was like, “oooh, c’mon Nathan, that’s you!” Don’t ask me why they took it upon themselves to call him Nate, but they did. Not that I don’t LOVE that nickname, but it got a little irritating so I think I’ll need to say something next time.

At any rate, we go into the exam room and N8 eagerly climbs upon the fancy beige dental chair and Ashlea (the hygenist) begins to have it recline back. At first, N8 gives me this look of “are you sure this is what it’s supposed to be doing, mom?” and I reassuringly give him a smile. After giving me a look then telling me that Nathan looks SO much like me, Ashlea then asks N8 what flavor of paste and flouride polish he wants. He chooses cherry on both counts. For the record, last checkup it was cookie dough, I believe. My personal choice would’ve been the bubble gum. So, then he gets to put on the little kiddie sunglasses while Ash (yes, I am shortening her name since she shortened my son’s) turns that bright overhead dentist light on and takes a peek at his pearlies. She then begins in with the cleaning and N8 performs like a champ, opening wide for brushing and closing his mouth for the spit sucker (a.k.a., Mr. Thirsty).

So, after finishing up with that we get to visit with Dr. Smith (the DDS). He’s such a hoot for an old man. He and N8 somehow got on the subject of Beach Bums (where N8 had his birthday) and they were chatting about big kahunas, etc. So, back to the title of this post. Come to find out, N8 has a pit in his right lower back tooth. Dr. Smith assures me it’s just the way his tooth formed and has nothing to do with how or what he eats. His teeth overall get a glowing review. Apparently, that particular tooth formed in an odd shape and Dr. Smith and Ashlea inform me that it’s pretty consistent with Nathan’s texture of the rest of his teeth. As Ashlea put it, “he’s just really….groovy”. I guess what she really meant was that his teeth are really groovy and edgy on the tops. So, as such, he’ll need to go in next week to have a tiny sealant put on since they don’t want to risk leaving it untreated and apt to decay over time.

By the end of the visit, N8 was walking out with a bag of loot! He got a groovy new toothbrush, stickers, skin sticker (tattoo), pencil, and floss. Overall, a great visit, and BONUS….we get to do this all over again next week!