Dentist

Scott and I took the girls to the dentist a few weeks ago.  I had taken the older girls previously in California a couple of times. It has always been a stressful experience in which I leave drenched in sweat. I wasn't looking forward to going back.  I made the appointment to take all three girls for their first Alabama dentist appointment at a time that I knew Scott would be available to help.  I had prepped him for how the girls tend to freak out and how I've found best to manage them.  

After our appointment, he thinks I was joking.  We saw Dr. Patrick Nassetta in Cullman.  Pat and his fantastic wife, Lauren, went to BSC with me.  Sweet Lauren is a sister of mine in the Chi Omega world, a great friend, and a wonderful doctor (I'm sure, I haven't been a patient, but she practices at the Children's Hospital - you never know... ) in her own right.  Anyway, from the time we walked in the door, I knew this would be a different experience.

Dr. Nassetta sat with us in the lobby discussing the girls dental history and giving them a chance to see him before he put on the "scary" mask and laid them down in the chair.  Everything about his presence was relaxing and put all 5 of us at ease. 

Grace & Shelby laid in chairs next to each other and Pat worked on one while the hygenist had the other.  There were even TVs! above the chairs, so the girls just laid still and watched the cartoons over their heads.  What a special treat!  I expected Miss Julia to stay on her daddy's lap while Pat looked in her mouth, but as soon as Shelby got out of the dentist chair, Julia laid right down and opened her mouth just like she had seen the big girls do.  She laid there with her mouth wide open just waiting patiently for the good doctor to count her teeth.  I couldn't have been more proud (or surprised!!) at her reaction.  Anyway - all this to say that if you're in need of a pediatric dentist, I couldn't say enough good things about Dr. Patrick Nassetta.  Worth the drive from anywhere to have an experience like this.  Believe me - I've now seen both.