First Lost Tooth!

 

Amelia has had a lot of teeth filled in the short time she's been going to the dentist. Luckily she is a real trooper and does great in the dentist chair! Earlier this month we went to the dentist for our 6 month check-ups and found that Amelia had MANY more issues than she has had in the past.

We went back a few days later and she had a crown put on on one of the least affected teeth. Dr. G. wanted to do a little work the first time he gave her Novocaine to see how she'd tolerate it, and she did great. About a week later we went back for the BIG visit, this was the hardest visit on me. Dr. G. had to take care of the two teeth that had the abscess. They were right next to each other. Each of them required a Pulpectomy which is essentially a root canal on a baby tooth. Dr. G. then had to cap each of the teeth. I think this was the most painful part of the process as it took a LONG time to get the caps cut down to the right size for her little tiny teeth. I would have been exhausted after a trip like that - Amelia wanted to go to school.

Our last visit to the dentist (for at least 5 months, keeping fingers crossed) was last Monday. Amelia was going to have a tooth pulled. This one was small enough that if her other teeth start coming in crooked, Dr. G. can put a spacer in to hold the spot until her permanent tooth grows in. I wasn't worried about this visit as Dr. G. has pulled my teeth (prior to my 2nd round with braces) and I knew he would be gentle. Amelia was VERY nervous! We talked about the Tooth Fairy coming, and her cousins got her a neat book about the Tooth Fairy with a little purple pouch to put her tooth in. I bought her "The Tooth Book" and We talked about how it would feel funny, and maybe sound weird, but it wouldn't hurt.

A few days before she had the tooth pulled Amelia put her little purple pouch under her pillow without my knowledge. The Tooth Fairy left her a note that said, "You tricked me, I only come to houses where children have lost their teeth. I will come back when you have a tooth for me." Amelia was shocked! The day to have her tooth pulled finally came - she was fine leaving the house and kept talking about how the Tooth Fairy was coming that night to bring her a present. I kept reminding her that the Tooth Fairy only brings a little money.

Dr. G. numbed up her mouth and started waiting for the Novocaine to kick in. I asked him if the development of her permanent teeth was appropriate for her age and he said just by the x-rays it looked like it. He also said the longer it took for them to come in the better! When her mouth was finally numb he started working on her - Amelia was making A LOT of noise; yet I could tell she couldn't feel anything. Dr. G. stopped to make sure she was numb; she was. I said, "I don't think she can feel it, I think she's just afraid it's going to hurt." Amelia replied, "Yeah the second one." Dr. G. proceeded and got the tooth out. I couldn't believe how decayed it was!!!

Dr. G. thinks, as I do, that Amelia's bad teeth are a combination of poor prenatal nutrition, poor nutrition as a baby, bottle propping, and likely hereditary bad teeth (I have that problem too!) all made worse by teeth grinding. He really hopes that her permanent teeth will come in much healthier, but if they don't we'll deal with that when the time comes. When she gets older we can also get her a mouth guard to wear to stop the teeth grinding if that doesn't stop on it's own.

Amelia felt better pretty quickly after her tooth came out. She was more numb than before and was drooling everywhere! I was glad I made the appointment for the end of the day, so we could come home and she could relax. She was excited to go to bed that night...she put her tooth under her pillow. Tuesday morning when I woke her up she was looking all over the bed for her present - I reminded her that the Tooth Fairy only brings a little money. Then she looked for her purple bag - and was excited to find a $2 bill!

It's been a LONG month, but I'm happy it's over, and that I have dental insurance!! Amelia says her mouth feels A LOT better!