Sunday, October 18, 2009

I Don't Remember It Being This Hard

On June 24, Mister Man went to the dentist (I know this because it was only last week that my insurance finally paid our claim and I got the updated bill from the dentist). The dentist informed my husband that Mister Man had two loose teeth. He was to wiggle them daily.

The loose teeth were news to us, but not too shocking. In fact, when I tried to wiggle then, I could sorta feel one wiggle but not even really the other one.

We encouraged him to wiggle.

He then informed us that he had seven loose teeth.

He didn't. He had two. We reminded him to wiggle.

The tooth got looser, but it still wasn't super loose. I kept up with the wiggle reminders. This week, he informed the receptionist at our chiropractor that he had a loose tooth and showed her.

Oh, look, Mister Man! It even has the new tooth growing in behind it. Cool!

Wait, what? Tooth growing behind it? NOT cool. Visions of hundred dollar bills being funneled to an orthodontist's villa in France flashed through my head. Oh, no. No, we aren't going to need braces because the child didn't wiggle his tooth. If we need braces, we're at least going to have a good reason.

On Thursday, I called the dentist to pay the aforementioned bill and asked how concerned I should be about this latest development. If the tooth isn't out by Monday, I was informed, I should make an appointment for the dentist to pull the tooth.

I didn't want to pay for a goofy dentist appointment to pull a baby tooth either, so the pressure was on Mister Man.

I tried helping him wiggle it, but my fingers are really too big.

I informed him that the tooth fairy doesn't come if the dentist has to pull a tooth. She only comes if the tooth falls out on its own. Something about how the tooth falling out sends a magical call to the tooth fairy to come that night. It's true, you know.

The tooth had to come out. Unfortunately, I had to explain this over the phone to him, as he was at Grandma's all day (long story, don't ask). And of course, Grandma and Grandpa did nothing to further the tooth loosening.

On Friday, he kept wiggling. And unfortunately, I had a lot to do on Friday, so I couldn't help him much (explain why schools schedule institute days for the days when you have the most to do). I could tell that it was getting looser, but it wasn't there.

I had a Girls Night Out Friday night, so at 4:50, I left the house and the wee ones in the care of my husband. I opened my book and promptly forgot about the tooth. Until I got a call from Mister Man about ten minutes later saying he'd lost his tooth!

I was surprised, but happy. Until I heard the story. Daddy took a whack at it. Actually, Daddy took two whacks at it and forced the tooth out. Then he had Mister Man rinse and spit in the sink, which freaked the poor boy out when he spit bright red.

But a lost tooth is a lost tooth, I suppose. If my husband was going to do that, it would have been nice to at least have been home to witness the miracle, but I'm not going to complain.

And yes, the Tooth Fairy did pay a visit that night. She brought her quarter in a fancy black velvet little bag and left it under Mister Man's pillow. You have no idea how excited he was to open it and get a whole quarter.



We still have one loose tooth though. Fortunately, I can't see or feel another tooth erupting behind it or anywhere near it, but that tooth is coming out this week. One way or the other.

22 comments:

Melisa Wells October 18, 2009 at 8:18 PM  

You're such a control freak.

I LOVE YOU.

xxxx October 18, 2009 at 8:34 PM  

Ohhh, I remember the whole tooth thing being SO traumatic! One down :)

septembermom October 18, 2009 at 8:38 PM  

It's weird with those teeth popping up behind the baby teeth. My 10 year old has one of those "shark teeth" in his mouth now. Our dentist didn't worry about it so we let it be. I do think that the orthodontist bills will be coming before I know it. You should see my older son's teeth. We don't have any insurance for that so we'll have a real stretched out payment plan.

Love Mister Man's photo!

Teacher Tom October 18, 2009 at 9:33 PM  

My girl Josephine used to sit at the table turning her very loose teeth around and around, trying to make me give in on dessert!

And a quarter? Out here in Seattle, the price is $5 for a first tooth and $1 hereafter. Those are the market prices.

Claudya Martinez October 18, 2009 at 11:14 PM  

Wow, your tooth fairy has really been hit hard by the recession.

Pop and Ice October 18, 2009 at 11:36 PM  

My daughter has her 12 year-old molar coming in. She's 17 years old. And just got her braces off earlier this year. Yeah. We thought it was a wisdom tooth. So hahahahahahahaha....all the way to the dentist, orthodontist and possibly oral surgeon.

Laura October 19, 2009 at 12:45 AM  

no I think you are right on the money start them off small and they won't expect the world when they are 10 geesh! we gave our boy who lost both bottom front teeth within a week a gold dollar figuring we could afford that now our 4 yo keeps insisting his teeth are loose!

WeaselMomma October 19, 2009 at 5:14 AM  

When you say "Dad took a whack at it" or rather two, can you expound?

Karen October 19, 2009 at 7:11 AM  

Yeah! for it coming out! But, from a mother of dental nightmares, having a tooth come in behind isn't a biggie. It'll move to fill in the gap all by itself as long as the gap is large enough. Mister Man's is, based on the picture. Just a little FYI for the future.

MsTypo October 19, 2009 at 7:54 AM  

That sounds painful! Poor kid. :( But a reward of a quarter is no small thing. LOL Is he going to allow dad to "take a whack at it" again after the first bloody experience?

Pat October 19, 2009 at 9:53 AM  

"Visions of hundred dollar bills being funneled to an orthodontist's villa in France..." made me laugh out loud. You write so well!

Mister Man is a cutie and he was very brave to let his daddy pullout his loose tooth. He EARNED that quarter for his bravery and his tooth.

Pat October 19, 2009 at 9:56 AM  

Oops...I meant pull out...I missed the space bar. ;)

Tami October 19, 2009 at 10:46 AM  

Congrats to Mister Man!!

anymommy October 19, 2009 at 4:30 PM  

I love the "no pulling teeth for the tooth fairy" rule! Way to wiggle, or whack?, it out of there!

Angela October 19, 2009 at 6:54 PM  

You crack me up, woman!!

I can't remember ever having issues with teeth coming in behind others, but then...I did have to have 6 permanent teeth (not including wisdom teeth) pulled. Ugh. Don't ask!

Michelle October 19, 2009 at 10:01 PM  

Melisa - Umm, duh. You're only just now figuring this out?

Swishy - It was never traumatic for me. I found a loose tooth, and I made it come out within a day or so. No trauma. Apparently I'm alone in this.

Kelly - Yeah, our dental plan doesn't cover orthodontia either. I'm not looking forward to that.

Teacher Tom - Around and around and they didn't come out? Mine always popped out at that point.

Unknown Mami - Really? I thought a quarter was pretty decent. He seemed thrilled with it. Oops.

Carol Lynn - Ohhhh, yuck. You win. Hands down.

Laura - I'm hoping he doesn't expect the world. He's honestly thrilled with the quarter and keeps telling everyone he sees about it.

WeaselMomma - I mean Daddy stuck his (probably still sick with the swine flu) finger into Mister Man's mouth and pulled hard. He heard a crack. So he did it again and popped the tooth out. I really do sorta mean took a whack at it. I wasn't there, so... just going by what he told me.

Karen - Ahhh, you made me feel sooo much better. Even if it's a total lie. I'm going with it :)

Cairo Typ0 - He said he was actually fine with it once it was done. He's letting Daddy try again with the next one if necessary.

Pat - Glad I made you laugh. I just made myself queasy. I don't think he quite ummmm realized what Daddy was going to do, but ... we'll go with it.

t.t. millers - Thanks. He's still (today) announcing to EVERYone that he lost a tooth.

Stacey - What, you've never heard of that rule? It's totally true.

Angela - Six teeth pulled? Ummm you know I have to ask....

Cookie October 19, 2009 at 11:24 PM  

Great picture!
Wow! One whole quarter?! Just think of all the things you can buy...

Michelle October 20, 2009 at 7:05 PM  

Cookie - You people are making me feel like a cheapskate. Really, is a quarter that low now?

Jeff and Charli Lee October 20, 2009 at 8:14 PM  

I hate to break it to you honey, but there's no escaping the expensive ortho bills. All 3 of my kids were/are in braces - and I never saw anything wrong with them in the first place. Someone out there has set the tooth-bar way too friggen high.

I prefer the days when crooked teeth were a sign of character.

Michelle October 20, 2009 at 8:47 PM  

Jeff - Gee thanks. You couldn't have lied to me, could you? I'm thinking mine might end up with some character. Maybe.

Clueless_Mama October 21, 2009 at 12:24 AM  

What a cute picture! I always love those pics of the few first lost teeth.

Michelle October 21, 2009 at 10:00 PM  

Clueless_Mama - Yeah... I can't wait for the "two front teeth" to fall out. I think it's a little optimistic to hope we get it by Christmas though!

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