Emme broke a tooth in half last week. One half came out, the other half was firmly wedged. We were close to certain that it was a baby tooth, but it’s hard to tell since she has adult teeth coming down at breakneck speed, while stubborn baby teeth are refusing to yield.
These would be my dental genes. If you’ll recall, before Jensen was born I had to endure adult orthodontics since I hung onto my baby eye teeth until my mid-40′s. The adult teeth finally decided to make an appearance, but there was no room at the inn.
Enter oral surgery, braces, chains, bands, and a retainer which is now gathering dust in the closet.
I took Emme to see her dentist to make an assessment as to whether or not having half a tooth in her mouth would be an issue. The dentist peered into the 12 year old’s mouth and made note of how many baby teeth were persistently taking up real estate. After a quick x-ray, it was noted that the broken tooth was indeed a baby tooth and posed no immediate threat. However, the SIX stubborn baby teeth were causing the adult teeth to make an entrance far in front of where they ought to be. She recommended that Emme see an orthodontist to get an opinion on whether or not the baby teeth should be forcibly extracted.
At this moment, I’m pretty sure Emme’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
This is the same child who upon losing her first tooth at the tender age of 6 caused such a commotion that I was certain the police would be dispatched. And her subsequent flailing made the bathroom look rather like a crime scene.
She immediately asked if she could be knocked out during the procedure. The doctor snickered. Um, SHE’S SERIOUS, DOC.
After all, she hails from a woman who requested an epidural at her 7 month ob check-up.
The dental hygienist noticed Emme’s inner turmoil and when the doctor left the room, she had a little heart-to-heart with her. She explained that there was really no root left to the baby teeth in question, and they should come out rather easily. To the tune of about $100 per tooth.
OR. She went on to confide in Emme that it would really be better if Emme would get them out herself.
The other bit of good news was that braces were likely eminent.
Hold me.
Over the next few days Emme worked herself into quite a state over the possible extraction of 6 5 and a half baby teeth. But Fiddledaddy decided to play Let’s Make a Deal. Giving serious thought to a $600 dental bill, he encouraged Emme to get the teeth out herself by offering a FIVE SPOT for every tooth she pulled herself.
The child is adept at math so it didn’t take her long to realize that she could score $30. Far and above the measly $1 per tooth that the Tooth Fairy offers.
And for the sake of full disclosure, the children in our house do not believe in the Tooth Fairy. They simply humor the mommy and allow her to live in a state of denial that the children are growing up.
Well. The child managed to pull 3 baby teeth (that were not even loose) out in the span of just 3 days. We were forced to put spare change and IOU’s under her pillow because the Tooth Fairy had yet to fly by the local ATM.
She got creative, too. Even going so far as to tie a string around one tooth and fasten the other end to a door knob. There was some talk of tying one end to the car bumper but I but the brakes on that idea. I also hid the pliers, as that was next on her to-do list.
The Tooth Fairy may have to get a little creative herself by auctioning off body parts to finance the upcoming orthodontics that may be necessary. I did, after all, sell my grandfather’s gold teeth to procure an iPad.
Desperate times. Desperate measures.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
{ 8 comments }
I feel your pain. When I took my SEVEN! Year old to his cleaning and the dentist told me that his top teeth were so overcrowded with the addition of only 4 adult teeth, that he most likely needs orthodontic work now, and again later!
GF, Miles has been in orthodontia work since he was 8 (and having teeth pulled by the dentist before that – don’t get me started on that serial teeth pulling adventure though…I still have fire burning in my veins after the last visit and could have cheerfully caused someone some bodily harm at the time…and enjoyed doing it!). He’s 13 now. He has inheirited the worst of the worst from his paternal grandmother (who boarded the adult orthodontia train at 54) and his mother (who caved to the siren cry of adult orthodontia at age 32. And again at 44- don’t judge on that last one. Retainers are important!).
Mia, at 11, just got braces on her lower teeth after wearing a retainer that makes your mouth bigger (as if she needs that) on the top teeth for 7 months or so when she was 10. Top braces coming soon.
The departure of teeth from the their sweet little mouths ranks right up there with nails on a blackboard or cords shriveling up and falling off a couple weeks after birth. I can’t stand it. I’d have to lay down and die if I witnessed the string to a doorknob routine. Bad enough I have to see them wiggle the stupid thing from one side of their mouth to the other as it clings for dear life. ::faints::
Still waiting on that ship to come in.
So glad it was a baby tooth. My youngest daughter (now 13) broke a permanent tooth (I think it was one of her eyeteeth) a few years ago. We didn’t know it till a couple of weeks after the incident that caused it because she had braces at the time; it was discovered at her regular orthodontic appt. When the orthodontist removed her wires, the bottom half of the tooth popped out. She now has a “fake” tooth (they painted some kind of polymer/acrylic/i dunno what to lengthen the remaining tooth). At some point she will have to get a more permanent crown, I think. Cha-Ching.
We are in a similiar situation with my ten-year-old. She also does much better with dental work when she is drugged up good. She inherited my teeth. Thankfully my son inherited his father’s teeth.
Hope everything goes smoothly and hang in there!
I think I only lost maybe 3 or 4 baby teeth on my own. I was a regular for gassing and yanking at the dentist’s office.
Oh, ROFL about asking for the epidural at 7 mo. OB check-up. I’m totally with ya sister. And, I had to laugh when she spoke up for herself and asked to be gassed.
What a good little daughter – she’s already knocked the bill down from $600 to $300. Woohoo!
We knew our firstborn would need braces for the very same reason your daughter will — obstinate baby teeth made the permanent ones come in cockeyed. But in the intervening years we learned a few things that I’ll share in hopes it helps you too
One: if you pay the whole amount up front, some dentists are willing to give you a cash discount.
Two: This didn’t work for us but did for someone we knew; they bartered their services and painted the dentist’s offices. I know you’ve done specialty painting in the past. It doesn’t hurt to ask if your dentist might be willing to trade at least part of the cost for some custom work (wall murals maybe?). Or maybe you, your hubby or whole family could do a professional quality commercial (either radio or tv) for the dental practice. Just throwing out some ideas
Like I said, it doesn’t hurt to ask!
My daughter Katy asked to be gassed for a throat culture. Wimp.
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