(Let’s just get this out of the way. No one has guessed the name. Yet.)
Last December, Whoorlito’s top teeth had a particularly shudder-inducing run-in with the bottom shelf of a steel baker’s rack. It was directly following one of his dramatic exits, usually involving my request to do something highly undesirable (such as finish eating his lunch or cleaning up his cars…I know, I am a TYRANT…) where he flails his arms, screams and runs full speed into his bedroom. I have no idea where he inherited these kind of ardent entrances and exits. This time, however, he tripped over his feet and made direct oral contact with a massive shelf.
I knew the minute he starting crying that this wasn’t any ordinary bump and bruise situation. That assumption was quickly verified when he looked up at me with blood spewing out of his mouth all over our kitchen floor. That’s the thing about mouth injuries in toddlers. Lots of blood + Lots of screaming = Bonafide Blood Sprinkler That Shall Not Cease.
Additionally, his two front teeth were not in their normal place.
I freaked the hell out.
I tried to stop the bleeding, called the dentist and hauled ass to her office.
I had all sorts of thoughts running through my head while driving to the office. Mainly, MY CHILD WILL HAVE NO FRONT TEETH. We might as well take up residence at a trailer park while donning matching mullets!
Now, a tooth being knocked out at any age is traumatic, but the thought is a little easier to swallow when the child is let’s say 5 or 6 and is expecting their permanent teeth to arrive within a year or two. Let me remind you, my child is three years old. We would be waiting for 3-4 years for his front permanent teeth to arrive. 3-4 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO HAVE NO FRONT TEETH, PEOPLE.
I tweeted about it and received so many super helpful emails about pediatric partials, fake teeth and generalized “Oh girl, I’ve been there” responses. (Thank you, by the way.) When we met with Wito’s dentist, she made the executive decision not to pull the teeth. She explained that, although Wito’s roots had been 100% severed, toddler gums were extremely resilient and could tighten around the tooth and keep it in place indefinitely. It would be an uphill battle for us because Wito was a thumbsucker which couldn’t possibly help with the gums firming up, though. It would be a wait and see situation.
Well, I am happy to report that those (quite loose) teeth held on for 6 months. 6 months of thumb-sucking, 6 months of apple-biting, 6 months of crazed preschooler antics.
Pearly whites intact!
Until yesterday. Yesterday, one tooth tossed up the white flag. The Dangler, as we liked to call it. A quick trip to the dentist, some high-potency topical anesthetic and The Dangler was no longer.
Au Revior, Dangler.
Wito seems to be taking it well. Actually, I am too. What’s three years, really? (Uh, A REALLY LONG TIME, that’s what. Whatevs.)
Luckily for Wito, he had a very special visitor deliver a very special dollar bill while he snoozed last night.
Wito would like you all to know that he hopes to purchase a “toy and a drink” with his “one money.”
Rest in peace, Dangler.
sizzle
June 10, 2010 at 9:59 amHe’s getting cuter by the minute. I think the missing tooth gives him character. He’s flawlessly adorable to start with so now he just seems edgy. A 3 year old with grit. ;-)
Awww, that makes me happy. Thanks, Sizz.
.-= sizzle´s last blog ..The Wild West =-.
Danielle (elleinadspir)
June 10, 2010 at 10:04 amWhere did you get that tooth money holder? Love it! And I think he is just as adorable as ever! That kid can pull off anything!
Thanks, Danielle. That was actually the container the dentist gave us containing his tooth. Isn’t it cute? I love it!!
.-= Danielle (elleinadspir)´s last blog ..Food Glorious Food – Part 9 (Orzo) =-.
Diane
June 10, 2010 at 10:23 amNot that you need me to tell you this, but he is still just as cute as ever. Love the tooth holder.
And since I haven’t guessed yet, I’ll say … Mathilde, Marja, Marny, Miriel, Mona, and … Mascara.
.-= Diane´s last blog ..Girl Talk Thursday – BOOKS! =-.
hikooky
June 10, 2010 at 10:28 amWhen my now 7-year old had his front tooth pulled at age 4 (playground accident), it definitely took awhile to get used to the new look. I am happy to say, the permanent tooth came in right on time, at age 6.5, along with his other front tooth. I do miss that adorable toothless smile from time to time, though. It caused him to whistle his S’s – priceless.
Kaleigha
June 10, 2010 at 10:28 amI love a toothless child. Adorable!!!
.-= Kaleigha´s last blog ..Introducing…Bryan Rupp Photography. =-.
Sonja von Franck
June 10, 2010 at 10:44 amBeautiful as always!!
Jen
June 10, 2010 at 10:44 amNow that I’m the mother of a toddler, one who also flails and thrashes and runs around our house with reckless abandon, I am so worried about this exact type of injury. The other night, Rowan was twirling around the living room with the (blunt) end of a comb near his mouth, and suddenly he fell forward, and the comb scraped the roof of his mouth, causing some blood and much woe. I immediately search his mouth (and the floor) looking for missing or loose teeth, but we lucked out — this time!
For the record, Wito is still so stinking cute without the tooth. And seeing what the tooth fairy left on his nightstand made me smile from ear to ear. :)
Kate
June 10, 2010 at 10:49 amMy friend Kim was able to get her daughter’s front tooth replaced with a very natural looking fake tooth after she had a similar accident (at a similar age). Insurance covered the whole thing, and then they had the tooth pulled when she was six or so, to make way for the adult tooth to grow in.
Groovymarlin
June 10, 2010 at 10:49 amLove the little tooth container. I have to find one in the next two years, ha ha!
Oh, and the name suggestion “Mascara” is FULL. OF. WIN.
.-= Groovymarlin´s last blog ..Discipline: We Gots It =-.
Amy Columbus
June 10, 2010 at 10:50 amSince I haven’t guessed…Maris?
Rachel Shingleton
June 10, 2010 at 10:59 amOMG, he just got that much cuter w/ his little missing tooth. I love it. He is too precious.
Lovin’ that tee he’s wearing, too – where’d you find it, if you don’t mind me asking?
Thank you! It’s from Olive Juice and my very favorite. I just keep ordering the next larger size. (Although, I just looked on their website and couldn’t find it. I think they are going through a redesign, though…give it a week or two…)
.-= Rachel Shingleton´s last blog ..Ballard Designs – a good sale! =-.
Carrie
June 10, 2010 at 10:59 amOMG he is adorable. I love this child and he looks like a million bucks sans the dangler. This will be a story for the family annals.
You tell it like no other. Busting up over here!!
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Pass the Bubbly =-.
Tina
June 10, 2010 at 11:06 amStill adorable…and the same thing happened to my cousin when he was two. Back then, there was no saving the teeth. So he was Toothless Timothy until he was 5 or 6. He was cute as a button though….
Best,
Tina
C @ Kid Things
June 10, 2010 at 11:06 amAw, he’s cute! And it actually makes him look older, if that helps. Like he could completely fit in with the 1st and 2nd graders. Or, you could just stick a chiclet up in there, because you know, that’s original.
HA! Chiclets! I am actually nervous about him looking older – he is already so tall and very verbal and I’m afraid people are going to expect so much more from him…good thing he can read, right?
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Fashionista =-.
Sarah
June 10, 2010 at 11:08 amSo adorable with The Dangler gone!