Nothing But the Tooth

At a friend's birthday party yesterday, the little V-meister became thoroughly entranced by a book that depicted Dora the Explorer's first visit to the dentist.

It was perfect timing, since she herself is scheduled for a long overdue first visit later this week and she's been obsessed with losing her teeth ever since she learned it happened to one of her friends. In fact, when the V-meister overheard me and the P-Dawg discussing finances recently, she informed us that "If you need money, you just pull your tooth out and put it under your pillow." Duh.

In the book, Dora is introduced to the various tools a dentist uses, including a mirror, floss, toothbrush, and the Scraper of Death (which they called an "explorer.") I kept my opinions about dentistry to myself, because not only was the V-meister completely transfixed by the nirvana that is a dental office as depicted by Dora and company, but a small crowd of her friends had begun to gather 'round as I continued to read aloud in my loudest, most convincing rainbows and unicorns voice about Dora's dental x-rays and the cavity that they unearthed. ¡Excellente!

When the reading was over, the V-meister and her friend, V-boy, were beside themselves with excitement. I overheard them discussing their upcoming appointments. V-meister wanted to know if we could go right after the party was over and V-boy, whose mother has not yet scheduled his visit, thought that he might be able to get in on Friday. My daughter had her fingers crossed for a cavity, and both of them looked forward with guarded hope to the prospect of free toothbrushes. Nobody's even told them about the laughing gas yet.

The V-meister's appointment is on Wednesday afternoon. Despite the fact that she has it circled and starred on her calendar, she has asked me no less than twenty times if the hour is yet at hand. While I'm all for the idea of presenting a trip to the dentist as a positive experience, I hope that saucy little cartoon tart hasn't set my daughter up for a fall.