A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

This is the story of what happens when your 4 year old falls and smashes his face on the ground.

Over a year ago, Noah (the child with the perpetual bruise on his head) fell somewhere and hit his face on the ground causing trauma to his upper teeth. At some point after that, one of his teeth turned a gray color indicating that the tooth had been injured. The dentist looked at it and said not to worry about it because there was no abscess and it wasn't bothering him. In August at his check-up, the dentist noticed that an abscess had formed and she said that the tooth needed to be removed....great

An appointment was made at the oral surgeon to remove it using the help of laughing gas and Novicaine. Let's just say that wasn't the dentist's most brilliant idea. He was far too traumatized about that idea. He refused to open his mouth, even after getting the laughing gas. The surgeon and his team struggled with him for a while trying to administer the Novocaine. The last straw for the surgeon was when he injected his own hand with the Novocaine. He had to leave the room after that. lol

SO, the next step was to put him completely under and remove it that way. Yesterday, we had our appointment at the day surgery center. This was a much better experience. They specialize in kids and were so good with him. Noah was actually ok with the whole idea after we told him when we got there. We were very worried because he basically freaked out after we told him the first time before oral surgery. The procedure only took about 10 minutes but including prep and recovery time, we were there about 3 hours. The space in his mouth where the tooth was will remain open until his permanent one grows in, about when he is 6. Until then we have to get used to his new "look". As a bonus, he had an early visit from the Tooth Fairy last night. Did you know she leaves double the amount when you have your tooth pulled out?? She probably figures that helps overcome the pain and trauma more quickly.

Before surgery

In the recovery room.

Popsicles would make me feel better too

After