Toothless

Poor Lexi had a rough go of things last week.  We decided to join the Moms Club for a fun morning field trip to the kids' old gymnastics studio.  Lexi was going through the obstacle courses with the other kids (which she had done countless times while she was in her own gymnastics class), and accidentally lost her footing on one of the climbing ladders.  She fell and hit her mouth on the rungs of the ladder.  When she first came up to see me in tears I thought she had cut her lip or tongue.  But after further inspection I noticed her top two teeth were bleeding at the gum line and were wiggling. 

I called the pediatric dentist and we visited later that afternoon.  After x-rays and an exam, the dentist told me the best course of action was to remove the teeth.  After her mouth injury two years ago (click here if you don't remember that story), the roots that connected her baby teeth to her permanent teeth had virtually disintegrated.  The dentist said that if we left the teeth in, they would most likely not reattach to anything.  By removing them this would give the permanent teeth a better chance of coming down evenly.  So, after discussing with Jeff, we decided to have the top two teeth extracted.  Lexi was given nitrous oxide (she looked like a fighter pilot with her mask on), as well as an iPod filled with Disney music to distract her, and we said goodbye to her two tiny teeth.

She was understandably upset right after.  She didn't understand what had happened to her teeth and was in pain.  But, having chocolate ice cream for dinner helped her feel better, as well as a visit from the tooth fairy that night.  She's been a real champ and isn't self conscious about it at all.  I think being as young as she is helps.  We keep telling her she has a big girl smile now and is super special.  

Toothless three year old.  She was most likely look like this until she is 7.

The tooth fairy went big for the poor patient...but left a disclaimer for Nicholas

I took Lexi to Toys R Us the next day to pick out a toy.  She chose a dress up outfit to match her favorite Barbie doll.