Advice please!

Ok, I need some advice from all of my mommy friends! Took Meredith to the dentist today for her second ever checkup. Chris took her the first time and she did so-so. Wouldn't sit in the big chair, but had her sit in his lap and they were able to get through the exam and cleaning.


So, I took her back today and it was a disaster. We had talked it up all week and she really seemed to be cool with it and excited about being a big girl. It went well at first, she hopped right into the chair and I had let her bring a stuffed animal in and I thought we were set. Well, when they moved the chair back, she just lost it and wanted nothing to do with the chair. So, we tried the same thing as last time with her sitting in my lap and leaning back and she did let her count her teeth, but the cleaning just wasn't going to happen. She tried every stalling technique, from going potty to telling me her legs hurt. She cried, screamed, wiggled and all but tried to escape. The dentist (pediatric dentist in Brier Creek) was ok, but I can't say she had very many great ideas. She just gave up and told me to reschedule.

So, any advice is appreciated on how to get this child to cooperate.