Fang

Oh my goodness... here's the story. I worked a 12 hour night shift Sunday into Monday. I got home and a coworker's daughter came over to watch the kids while I took a nap, but she had class, so I had a quick 1.5hr nap. When Matt got home at 3pm, I went back down for another quick 1.5hr nap. Then Matt headed out to play golf (he's in a league) and I got back up with the kids. After playing in the sandbox then eating dinner the kids were in desperate need of a bath. I decided to have them take a bath then we could go for a walk before heading to bed... well, the kids head to bed. As exhausted as I was I had big plans to watch the LOST finale (which I still haven't seen!) with a friend.

In the tub the kids were so cute and well behaved. I had my cell phone and decided to take a picture to send to Matt to show him that all was well at home. While I am trying to get the kids' attention for a pic, Kinley leaned towards the outside of the tub and whether her hand slipped or if she just lost her balance we will not know. She fell forward landing her mouth on the side of the tub. She chipped her right front tooth and possibly pushed her left tooth up into the gum a bit.  She was very upset for all of 3 minutes.  She did not bleed.  As you can imagine I was devastated.  The on-call pediatrician urged us to get to the ED as soon as possible because if the pulp was exposed it needed to sealed within 4 hours of the injury.

Now this was Kinley's 4th visit to the ED in less than 5 months.  And of course it was PACKED!  Much more packed than our previous visits.  Of course this would happen when she had a time dependent injury.  At 9:15 I approached the secretary to remind her that Kinley's accident happened at 6...  only 45 minutes left to seal the tooth.  Shortly after a resident and attending came right out into the waiting room and examined Kinley.  She was not going to need the sealing, but would need to see a pediatric dentist in the morning.  We were discharged right there in the waiting room.

I called our dentist in the morning for a referral to a pediatric dentist.  I called them, but they were not accepting new patients.  They gave me another office to call.  That office was closed until Thursday.  In desperation, I did what I did not want to do.  I called the clinic at the hospital.  I spent almost 10 minutes on hold, being transferred, etc.  Matt called me to get an update and I lost the clinic's call.  I had my 100th meltdown since the night before.  Max, confused by his emotional hot mess mother, said 'Mommy, be happy, ok?  Happy!'  So sweet :-)  I decided it was a sign that the clinic was not the way to go.  I then called back our dentist and told him I had been unsuccessful at getting an appointment. 

When they worked to get me the appointment I needed, I cried.  When the new office said they could see Kinley at 2:30, I cried.  The secretary, caught off guard, asked if the 2:30 appointment was during nap time and offered to see her tomorrow morning.  No!  I just told her I was so happy and relieved.  I just want my baby's smile back and I wanted to know if it was possible and how long I would have to wait.  It was also another relief to find out that because this was a result of an accident, Matt's medical insurance would cover the visit.

The office staff was amazing with her and the dentist was amazing.  No work needed to be done at this time!  Most likely the only work she will need is for cosmetic reasons (which is reason enough for us).  She will return in 3 months.  The dentist wanted to wait until she was a little older and the tooth comes in a little more before bonding it.  Such a relief and I only cried a little bit more.  I am not really sure if I need medication or some sleep... or maybe Kinley needs to keep her drama to a minimum.  The last 24 hours (really 1 year, 1 week, and 1 day) have been too much for the old nerves!

For now we will have to get used to the 'fang' I suppose!  A neighbor friend's son did a similar thing when he was 15 months old and he had a repair done shortly after.  If we decide we don't want to wait as long as the current pediatric dentist wants to wait, then we will go and see that dentist instead!

I was completely unprepared for Kinley's first dental appointment... I thought Max would have his first!  I did grab the camera to snap some pics of this momentus occassion. 

Before heading into the appointment.  She saw Dr. Skolnick

Kinley got a rubber duckie for being such a good patient!

Can you see the fang?  :-(  This is the best shot I could get for now.