(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.
Angella
June 10, 2010 at 11:10 amI already said this via email and Flickr, but he’s as cute as ever (if not CUTER).
.-= Angella´s last blog ..Ready To Run =-.
Home Sweet Sarah
June 10, 2010 at 11:16 amAt least in true HT fashion, you had your hair-dos planned out in case of a necessary move to a trailer park!
Am also now officially going to call one dollar bills “one money” because that’s basically the cutest thing ever.
(If only I could get an adult drink with one money!)
Maven?
sarah
June 10, 2010 at 11:20 amOh, I am so sorry, my children losing teeth is a big fear of mine b/c of the length of time before they get new ones. On the positive side, Wito is far from trailer trash and looks very cute with just 1 front tooth. Maybe he will be one that gets his permanents in early.
One can only hope! Interestingly enough, my dentist said that if a child loses their tooth around 4.5 to 5 years old, it actually quickens the permanent tooth’s arrival. Unfortunately, that concept doesn’t hold true if they lose it at 3 or before. Weird, huh?
.-= sarah´s last blog ..endings =-.
Home Sweet Sarah
June 10, 2010 at 11:26 amOkay, so no Maven I see, after going back and searching through the comments.
How about Mari?
Or Michal?
Or Mona?
Or Marna?
.-= Home Sweet Sarah´s last blog ..A Working Blog Post Title Production* =-.
whoorl
June 10, 2010 at 11:28 amYou all need to quit guessing while you still have your dignity. ;)
bethany actually
June 10, 2010 at 11:40 amAww, Wito looks good with a gap-toothed grin. The main drawback (other than not having a tooth there for three years) is that now people are going to think he’s even older than he is. Good thing he’s so advanced for his age in many ways, it won’t be tough for him to pass for 5. ;-)
My cousin’s kid had a problem with his two front teeth when he was about Wito’s age and had to have them pulled. He wore dentures for a bit but they didn’t work out and he just went around missing his two front teeth for a few years. He’s 12 now and is a perfectly well-adjusted kid with all his teeth.
.-= bethany actually´s last blog ..say cheese =-.
stephanie
June 10, 2010 at 11:47 amWhat’s 3 years? Only a lifetime to Wito, right? :-) Good thing he looks so cute toothless!
I haven’t gone through all the previous guesses, so mine are likely duplicates but here goes anyway…
Margo/Margot
Meredith
Matilda
Michaela
Melinda
jcristg
June 10, 2010 at 11:52 amThe haircut + the gap = total little man!
A few new ones… (I think?)
mackall
mccall
mcclain
mclean
Kerri Anne
June 10, 2010 at 11:59 amI love Sizzle’s comment. And agree wholeheartedly. True Grit, Adorable Toddler Edition, starring Derby and directed by Clint Eastwood.
Also, that might be the cutest tooth fairy deposit box I’ve ever seen.
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..Interest In Your Bold Rejection Of Social Norms As Evidenced By Your Dyed Hair =-.
Laura in LA
June 10, 2010 at 12:12 pmHe is a cutie. I hate that you had to go through such trauma, scary times!
Meg
Maggie
Miller
Mason
Micah
Melody
Lyndsay
June 10, 2010 at 12:16 pmMethusela?
Where’d you get the darling striped shirt?
Jammer
June 10, 2010 at 12:22 pmI literally just got my wisdom teeth taken last week…I didn’t even think about hitting up the tooth fairy after…darn it
.-= Jammer´s last blog ..Oh, how I can’t wait until you go on sale… =-.
Trinity(of haiku tofu)
June 10, 2010 at 12:52 pmHe looks cute without that tooth. 3 years of cuteness ahead. also- is the girl Monet?
.-= Trinity(of haiku tofu)´s last blog ..Yellow Rice, Black Beans, Fried Bananas, YUM. =-.
Rachel
June 10, 2010 at 12:58 pm3-4 years IS along time without a front tooth. You know what else is a long time with one front tooth? SIX. I lost my front baby teeth in kindergarten and one of them didn’t grow in until I was in SIXTH GRADE. I had braces before I had all my teeth. There were extra teeth up in my gums impeding my front tooth from growing in. 3 years doesn’t seem so bad now does it? At least Wito won’t go to middle school missing a front tooth :) Plus he looks adorable!
Kristyn
June 10, 2010 at 1:10 pmI have no pride…
Merceya
Madchen
Maple
Miffy (o.k not really)
Macca Pacca (sometimes preschoolers can be quite influential when naming siblings)