The Tooth

When Bo was just a little over 3 years old, he had to get a silver cap. The discovery of a cavity before he turned 3, the procedure to get a cap on, was all very very troubling for me. I was heartsick. Which is weird, and even now as I type that, my rational brain says, "Nobody, don't admit that--you're a nutjob. Keep some things to yourself, wouldja?" But it's the truth, and I feel compelled to tell it.

You can read about his day at the dentist HERE. It was an interesting experience. Because he was so young he had to be put "under". That was the most troubling for me. As you can see, we all survived.

Every time I looked at his big silver tooth (you can see it in the banner picture) I felt sad, like I had failed my little boy. I expected every day for him to come to me and tell me how bad a mom I am and how awful his life is now, with this big silver tooth.

Instead, the neighbor kids started asking their mom's if they could get one. Bo asked us how we got it so he could give the neighbor kids this important information. We told him it just cost $500 and a couple of hours with a dentist. (It was so expensive because insurance didn't cover the cost of anesthesia since it could be considered "unnecessary" but I don't know any dentists willing to drill on a 2 or 3 year old without it.)

So, this little "blemish" I felt guilt about my 3 year old having, made him the envy of the neighborhood. We went with him. To this day, I feel a little guilt every time I see it, and he feels pride every time he sees it.

So, fast forward a couple of years, and Bo is in preschool. He has been learning about teeth and dental hygiene for the last week or so. Everyday he's come home with great elaborate pieces of artwork that show good clean teeth and how we keep them that way. One had a happy tooth with pictures pasted on it of good healthy things that keep teeth happy. On the flip side was a sad tooth with pictures pasted of all the foods we eat around here bad food that make teeth sad.

At night when I'm helping him brush his teeth, the boy who used to gripe at all the brushing now says, "Ah you going in smaw circohs?" Yes Your Highness.

So last week, he jumped in the van with a great big outline of a tooth. He showed it to me excitedly and explained that he was to go home and color a "good" " happy" tooth.

He exclaims, "I can't wait to get home and color the whole thing silver!"

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