Monday, March 17, 2008

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!"

p.s. If you have a link to me on your blog please see the post below. Gracias

15 comments:

Bubbles said...

First.

Bubbles said...

You're such a good mom!

Tori :) said...

You could just carve a $ in it or his initials and it could be his bling.

Deena said...

All those kids were right to be jealous of his grillz

Erica said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
I remember learning about teeth. This guy dressed up as a tooth came in especially and gave us a talk about flossing our teeth. But I was very confused because everytime I flossed nothing seemed to happen...

I think my teeth are pretty content at the moment because I just had an orange, then some ice cream :-)

Mamarazzi said...

love it! loved the post about the dentist visit. and love loved "foods we eat around here" struck out...hilarious!

Jenny P. said...

Jordan has a silver tooth too. He had hypoplasia (I don't really know what that is... some enamal self destruction thing)... anyway, he got it when he was less than 3, and had to be put under and I was also devestated. So don't feel bad.

Just the same though... all his friends are totally jealous.

Adolescent Family said...

Logan got 2 "silver teeth" when he was 4. He also had to be put under. :( this is sad for me too. But I figure they will fall out before he even realizes they are there! Not that it makes me feel better about having them, cuz it doesn't...

Happy St. Patty's day! Go Green, or something?

Word.

Anonymous said...

I have a gold tooth but you can't see it unless I show you cause it is in the back but I still have that feeling of "big pimpin G money"

tor:) is right, get a diamond B initial on it!!

Super Happy Girl said...

Firstly: I don't know we can be friends anymore after this confession of the "blemish".
Goodness knows I have never ever done such a thing!

Nextly: Maybe if you got him some bling for his grillz...maybe I dunno, maybe you could be cool again.

Finallystely: I had never noticed, until you pointed it out, that the banner pic shows the silver toothy.
WOW! I learned soemthing knew every day.

omar said...

I don't see the silver tooth in the picture...

After reading this, I also want a silver tooth. With tiny diamonds in it. Nothing too gaudy, it'll be tasteful. I go to the dentist tomorrow, I'll find out my options.

Sketchy said...

I love that he thinks he has a grill. LOL

Code Yellow Mom said...

I LOVE that boy.

Is this an OK place to admit that my 3-year-old, who had a pristine mouth full of teeth six months ago now has 7 cavities? And instead of doing their $2100 "treatment plan" I'm opting to let the rotten ones fall out when they will, instead of filling them (for $2100) and THEN letting them fall out when they will? I feel guilt about the cavities but I feel more suspicious that the dentist is taking us for a $2100 ride. Although I think Henry would really groove on a grill like Bo's. Hmmmmmm.....

Code Yellow Mom said...

P.S. Henry's not in pain, so that's why I can probably be so uncaring at the moment.

Kikibug said...

Well, as you know my husband had a gold tooth, right smack there in the front and it was COOL. He was THA BROTHA! well, OK, really he is the whitest guy I know, but it was cool and being from the south where 80% of the population has gold in their mouth it made me feel at home. He got it removed and now I miss it. I did worry that Judson would want one too, and he did for a while, but that stage is over. I would only let him get one if he got a big J in it. hahaha