He said "Gimme a break" so I showed him my watch

My son called yesterday afternoon. I needed to come pick him up because he'd broken a tooth. This has happened before.

When he was 10 or so, he went down a slide headfirst (yes, he'd been warned) and broke both his two top front teeth halfway up. The dentist was able to make a bonded filling to replace the half that was missing, but his teeth have been very sensitive ever since.

When I got there to pick him up, I asked him, "So, how did this happen?" He said he was rough housing with a friend and the guy's watch hit him in the mouth. (Better a watch than a fist, I guess.)

His tooth was broken way beyond halfway, and it wasn't a clean-across-the-bottom break, but it also broke in half vertically also, the back half of the tooth shearing off. Extremely exposed nerve. I called every dentist for miles, but it was Thursday afternoon, and apparently the dentists here close early Thursday so they can have Friday off. Must be nice. The nurse at our usual dentist's office was so helpful, trying so hard to find us somewhere to be seen, but no luck. She finally said, "Take him to the ER, they usually have a periodontist on call." I didn't know that.

They didn't. The doctor wrote him a prescription for pain meds and sent him home with a recommendation to get some beeswax to seal it for the night. He was able to get us an appointment with a dentist who told me they had no openings, though, so I guess it was worth the trip.

We just got back from the dentist. There's not a thing in the world he can do, and referred us to an endodontist for a root canal evaluation. Do I sense a theme developing with this child's dental issues? We'll see what the endodontist has to say. And the credit card company.

It's the big day

My son is having his root canal today. Oh boy, oh boy. I'm hopin' and prayin' that he doesn't have my tendency toward nerve overgrowth!

When I was pregnant with oldest daughter, one of my old metal fillings cracked and took the tooth with it. The root canal wasn't awful, mostly just hours of sitting with my mouth open, but that's just like watching TV (how DO they think up such terrible commercials?) so no big deal. But, in excavating the root, the dentist found - not two, not three, but seven nerves supplying this one tooth! I think he might have even missed one, because the tooth is still sensitive to cold and sweet.

Now, this nerve overgrowth would explain so much. Regular dental cleanings have always hurt my teeth and the dentists always thought I was just being a wimp. I've given birth to six kids, how wimpy can I be?? Hm? We own a Sonicare toothbrush, but I can only stand to use it a couple times a week because it makes my teeth too sensitive to chew with. The Sonicare Diet. Nah, I can smell the lawyers ponying up already.

Of course, if the poor boy had my nerve overgrowth, at least one of the thirteen cavities he is nurturing would start hollering at him, right? Well, we shall see. It promises to be an interesting afternoon.

Say AHHHH

It's been a real fiasco here this summer. Turns out several of our children have forgotten how to brush their teeth! Now, that the 7-year old has a cavity, I'm not surprised. That the 10-year old has a cavity worthy of a root canal disturbs me (it was a baby tooth though, so we pulled it.) But that my 15-year old son has 13 - THIRTEEN - cavities, that's a real blow to the parenting job I thought I was doing.

Now, to be fair, in his defense, I concede that he has what is called "porous enamel" and with the move and getting resettled, I didn't exactly run to the dentist for sealants as often as I should.

But, knowing he has this porous enamel, and in my own defense, I have purchased, instructed in the use of, reminded and nagged concerning the use of floss, the toothpaste of his choice, a pre- and post-brushing rinse and a fancy sonic toothbrush that does all but sing the national anthem to him.

If even two - pick two, any two - of these had been faithfully used, I submit the damage would not have been as extensive. Now, partway through drilling, the dentist informs me that at least one of his teeth will require a root canal.

I'm pretty much over my anger, but can't quite see my way to laugh about it yet. I am seriously considering telling all the relatives to purchase tooth care items and gift certificates to the dentist for Christmas this year, though. After insurance we'll be in debt to the dentist more than $2000. While that includes cleanings, my oldest's wisdom teeth removal and various fillings, it doesn't include root canals, braces or anesthesia for the poor boy who just can't sit still in the chair. My mother said, "Have the dentist just skip the novocaine!" Yeah, sure, except the dentist didn't do anything wrong, why should he be punished? So much for a commuter car this year.

So, open wide and say AHHHH, or is it ARGH!?