Snaggletooth No More

Jansen has been lovingly referred to as "Snaggletooth" or "Snaggletooth Monster" over the past few months, ever since his second upper front tooth came in misshaped and pointy.  Here's an example from early January...

Then last week at his one year appointment, I asked the pediatrician about it and he suggested to take Jansen to a pediatric dentist just to be cautious.  Well, then just two days later (while I was waiting for a callback for an appointment at the dentist), I noticed that a portion of the misshaped tooth had fallen off and now there was an obvious red line exposed.  I quickly chatted with my sweet dentist friends and family and realized that the red mark was probably an exposed nerve which at the least causes a lot of sensitivity and at the most could leave Jansen very susceptible to infection, even abscess.  Here are my pictures from trying to share the look with my dentist loved ones...

 So, I called the pediatric dental specialist back and made it clear that this was more of an ASAP situation.  They got us in next day (today).  I figured they might need to fill it or do a root canal or something, but very quickly the appointment went a different direction.  Janse was amazing.  He even let them do an x-ray with very little fussing and crying.  But the x-ray revealed what the dentist thought was obvious from the normal view as well, the tooth would not be able to be capped or filled and there wasn't even enough normal-shaped tooth to work with for a successful root canal...the poor baby's tooth would have to be ripped out!  I was not prepared for this.  I was emotional, but contained.  It's just sooooo difficult to allow your child to experience pain, to knowingly put them in a scary, difficult and painful situation.  The dentist knew I was sad at the news (ok, there were some tears), so they encouraged me not to be present for the actual procedure.  Due to Jansen's age, they didn't put him under general anesthesia and they didn't want to give him anything oral either, so they just used some topical numbing meds.  First though he was strapped into a baby straight jacket.  It was terrible!  Then I kissed him on the forehead and was escorted out.  Ugh.  You might as well have ripped my heart out.  Thankfully it was a super quick procedure and the dentist and her attendant were so kind and sweet with Jansen.  The dentist herself brought Jansen to me in the recovery room in her arms.  He was red, sweaty and trembling.  But he quickly bounced back and before we left he was already flirting with the nurses at checkout with smiles and waves.  What a sweet trooper!  I, on the other hand, was totally emotionally drained and felt like I could call it a day and go to bed when I got home!  Here are some pictures of the extracted tooth, you can see how misshaped it was and how very exposed the nerve must have been.

Jansen had a fabulous rest of the day with a good appetite at lunch, a super long nap after such an ordeal, a great dinner appetite and lots of loves and sympathy from his caring brothers.  I got a picture of him just to prove he was happy and OK, it's not a great pic of his tooth situation, but I wasn't about to force the kid for a photo shoot!

After bathtime, he was playing peekaboo with a blanket, so I had to take a video.  He has such a sweet little disposition.  So happy even after such a day!

Jansen, I'm so proud of you and thankful for your joyful spirit.  I loved your snaggletooth smile, but I love you know matter what look you sport and I know I will love this new view just as much as the old.  You are blessing to me from your outward expressions to your inward personality, it's all a treasure to me.  Good job today, buddy.