Say "ahhhh"

Ahhhh, the dentist.  It was that time again, and I had all four of them in chairs at the same time.  Now that would have been a great picture.  I'm sure I would have thought about that if I weren't thinking about sealants, cavities, expanders, braces, sticky flouride, and a child who wouldn't open her mouth...

Allison's Mouth.  Recap:  One front permanent tooth went into Parker's head about 2-1/2 years ago.  Ended up with semi-permenant matter to fill in 3/4 of missing tooth and root canal.  Still having (parents) small anxiety attacks about the long-term cost of such accident.  Will receive braces next summer (after the move) now that all baby teeth are out.  Once braces are out, tooth can be reshaped or redone.  Once teenage years are done, tooth will be redone with different material, more permanent that can be matched to the exact color of her adult-life teeth.  Cha-ching.

 Madison's teeth.  Recap:  Had lots of spaces between her baby teeth.  This was a good thing...was.  Started sucking thumb, changed the shape of her upper jaw and spread teeth out further, not in a good way.  Put in slightly expensive appliance for about six months to get her to stop sucking thumb (in kindergarten, mind you).  Teeth and jaw moved back on their own, crisis averted...ummm, not so fast.  New teeth started coming in where all that space was...LARGE teeth.  Not enough room.  After today's appointment, we are having spacers but in, expander put in, and four braces put on.  That's just Phase 1.  Phase two could start as early as next summer with new orthodontist who will need to put on a full set of braces.  Cha-ching.

Parker's teeth.  Recap:  Has had one filling between two front teeth where they touch.  Will be getting a filling to cover a corner of one molar that didn't properly form (just the corner, not the whole molar) as a preventative measure.  It has started to get that "sticky feel" before a cavity shows up.  Teeth look good other than that.  Does have one discolored front tooth from hitting something, can't remember what.  Hopefully adult tooth or root canal was not damaged so that we don't have to hear more "cha-ching."

McKenna's teeth.  Recap:  She's only had them for 2-1/2 years.  Must wrestle with her to brush them.  Did not want to show them to the dentist...because she doesn't socialize with anyone outside her immediate family, in general.  We did count and look at them, will try to actually clean them next time.  Will probably hear "cha-ching" from her, too. 

"Ahhhh" was not what Sarah was walking out the the dentist saying.  Her calendar is already full of many more appointments for the next many weeks...and scheduling the six-month check-up in April was already tricky on top of that!