A Gappy Grin - but not on purpose

On Tuesdays - Ephraim has soccer practice. It is late - from 6:30 to 7 which means that we usually come home and have breakfast for dinner. This Tuesday we decided to make waffles. The kids love to help and pulled up a chair to help me stir. Their chair was a bit far away from the counter - so to be safer I moved the chair in. This caused Ephraim to fall face first on our tile floor. It was one of those falls where you know it is bad before the child makes a sound. I wasn't sure it was his face, or one of his arms since they were at a funny angle. It was his face - one of his front teeth was pushed back at an angle.

Instead of having waffles for dinner - Ephraim ate two popsicles, had some Motrin, and watched Top Gear (US version) his favorite show while Selah and I had waffles and strawberries.

The next morning (the day before his birthday!) his mouth was still sore and I started making calls to the dentist.  Our dental insurance is good, but really persnickety.  They only cover pediatric dentists with referrals from your general dentist.  I have enough experience now with dental emergencies that I knew Eph would do better at Selah's pediatric dentist.  I called his general dentist (who he has never seen) and thankfully they sent a referral without needing to see him.  Our appointment was for 2 PM and we spent the rest of the morning going grocery shopping, getting the oil changed at Jiffy Lube, smoothies at Jamba Juice, and getting a car wash.


If you know Ephraim very well, you know that he is my more timid child, and can be a bit slow to warm up to new situations or people.  Forrest and I had talked to him alot the night before and in the morning about how he was going to see the dentist, have his picture taken, and they might take out his tooth.  I was so proud of him that he took his xray without any issues.

While we were waiting for the dentist to see us Eph hung out on the chair and watched a movie that was playing on the ceiling.  (Rise of the Guardians).

As you can see in the xray - Eph broke his tooth into two pieces.  The dentist recommended extracting the bottom piece and leaving the top piece in place.  It would be impossible to glue to pieces back together and trying to get the top piece out could possibly damage his permanent teeth - which look unharmed in the xray.  Eventually his permanent tooth will push that small piece out.

To help Eph relax before they extracted his tooth they gave him nitrous oxide (laughing gas).  He was a champ and didn't fuss at all when the hygienist put the rubber piece over his nose.  He laid still and watched his movie for about 15 minutes before the dentist came back in.  They didn't want me in the same room as the nitrous because I am pregnant, so I sat outside the door with a very wiggly three year old.  I came back in when the dentist came in and held Eph's hand while the dentist numbed his gums and pulled out his tooth.  Ephraim again did great!  The dentist told Eph he was the "bravest kid of the day" and that he could have two prizes and a balloon.  The dentist asked Ephraim not to tell anyone about the two prizes because most kids only get one.  Eph took this very seriously and was upset at me for telling Forrest about the two prizes when I called him.  

The gappy grin.  By the time we got home Ephraim was in pain and got to have some more medicine and two more popsicles.  Daddy even came home with a Costco smoothie for him.  Ephraim is getting used to having a hole in his mouth and likes to show it to anyone he can.  He was also very excited that not only did he get presents on his birthday, but that the tooth fairy also made a visit to his room.