Ukraine Adoption

A trip to the dentist

Tara walked into the dentist office on Thursday morning, confident and brave. I trailed behind, worried about what they may find in a former orphan's teeth. It was her first visit. I had been procrastinating for lots of reasons, but it was finally time to get her teeth cleaned and examined. I had an appointment, too, and told Tara that I would go first. But the hygenist had other plans. The seat was set up for a little one. I sat in the chair nearby, clutching the book she wanted to look at and trying to get a good view of her.

Tara smiled at the hygenist. She carefully and clearly answered all of her questions. How old are you? Three! Do you brush your teeth? Yes. Tara's smile revealed her dimple. The nurses and receptionists who walked by kept stopping to see her and to tell me how cute she is.

I had read some blogs about children from Ukraine orphanages having a lot of issues with their teeth. I prepared myself to hear the worst. Fillings, pullings, realignments, whatever. I smiled at Tara whenever she looked at me from that big chair. I was the picture of calm. On the outside.

The dentist arrived after our cleanings. Tara gave him her pretending -to-be-shy smile that is sort of a like a pucker. He was charmed. He counted her teeth out loud. She thought that was funny. I waited for the news. "All done," he said. I wait. I ask. "How do her teeth look?"

They look good, he says, no cavities. (!) And she has good spacing for her permanent teeth to come in when she's a little older. WHEWWWW, I exhale. But then he tells me that I have a cavity.