Even Apollo knows the importance of good dental hygiene!
Yesterday afternoon was spent with ten children at the dentist for check ups and exams (only ten because it's a pediatric dentist and two children are 18, one goes to a different dentist and one only has four teeth). I'm all for spending the whole afternoon and getting it over with rather than going every day for a week or two. Thankfully our dentist is very accommodating and clears the schedule for the Baker's Dozen Invasion.
To make a long story even a tiny bit shorter, let me say they all have clean, well cared for teeth (one teen boy with two cavities which have been small for a couple of years but now need to be filled- everyone else, cavity free!) Unfortunately (as I've blogged about before) most of my children have very, ahem, unique dental features.
And by the way, you know you have a large family when you literally have to take notes at the dentist to assure you remember everything and can pass the information on to you husband (who's working hard to pay those dental bills).
Adalia (15) has an impacted molar that they discovered when she was twelve. All of her other adult teeth are now in and this tooth rests right up in her jaw, looking just like an adult tooth in a mouth full of baby teeth. We are looking into getting it removed (which would involve oral surgery). We've been watching it closely since it was discovered. It means she will be short one tooth on that side, but since her teeth are so crowded anyway, it's not seen as a problem. And thankfully for her, while her teeth are very crowded they are perfectly straight.
And speaking of being short a tooth…the x-rays this year revealed that Tilly (12) is missing at least one adult molar…she will be going in later for panoramic x-rays to see if any others are missing…
And speaking of more missing teeth, the dentist has suspected since Hezekiah was four that he is missing adult tooth #7. Yesterday's visit confirmed this. Number seven is not the front tooth, but one over from it…and to make things even more fun, tooth #10 (# 7's partner) is tiny…I believe they used the word "peg" to describe it. We have a few options for Hezekiah…spend the next ten or twelve years trying to "maintain" the space in his mouth for a future implant…or let the teeth come in and see how they look. Either method involves pulling a baby tooth or two since the next one wanting to emerge is nearly horizontal to his gum line. And they said since he is missing one and has the other tooth that is "pegged" he could very well be missing more. For now we are just pulling baby teeth to see what his mouth will do naturally. The dentist insisted this is what happened to Tom Cruise. So of course I came home and googled photos of Tom Cruise. Apparently there has been much discussion (and just plain meanness) surrounding his off-centered teeth. Well, I always knew Hezekiah was destined for something special…
At least four of my children have enamel hypoplasia, meaning they have spots on their teeth where enamel never formed. Yes, those would be "cavities waiting to happen". So far we've avoided them with good oral hygiene.
Tucker's four canine teeth emerged covered with large white spots. These spots were so big they covered the entire front of his teeth. They are simply spots that happened during his prenatal tooth development…when the dentist and I were discussing it yesterday he said, "Did you every have a really high fever while you were pregnant with him?"
"Yes! I had the flu and was really, really sick when I was pregnant with him".
"That's what did it" he answered. Apparently when you see the uniformity (all four canines affected, no other teeth) it can often be pinpointed to a fever during pregnancy. Crazy!!! I was so sick with the flu, my mom came out to the house for a week to care for my children. I couldn't even move out of bed or off the couch. Remember that, mom? Apparently those four teeth were forming in his little mouth while I was sick.
So, I have three children going back in for panoramic x-rays (to check for missing teeth and wisdom teeth), one boy with two cavities, looking into our options for Adalia's impacted molar, and having two teeth pulled on Hezekiah.
I need a personal assistant just to keep it all straight…
{Please bear with the iPhone photos…I chose not to humiliate my children by turning their dental check up into a photoshoot!}
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We love Dr. S. He has been seeing my three kiddos with special needs from the beginning.
I so understand the teeth thing. We have two boys with missing one or both of those same teeth. A fake one is going in at the end of the month just on wires. They are going to build the peg tooth up when he’s older to look normal. We decided not to pull it. The other one has spacers just to keep his teeth from moving backwards. If you are looking at any orthodontic work, shop around, find the orthodontist you like and bring him/her your lowest bid. Often times they will match it. You could write a book about going to the dentist.
That is crazy about the pregnancy affecting teeth development! The last time I took my daughter to the dentist the hygenist was cleaning her teeth and noticed that one of her back molars was kind of shaped/colored a little different. She asked if she had had a high fever when she was a baby and she had RSV when she was about 3 months old. Soo weird!
We have a pirate here, too. My 13 year old daughter has 2 “pegs”. Her 2 front teeth are in place, though.
Hmm….the last picture makes me wonder if you have a dentist in the family. Maybe Avi will be mesmorized and will be treating the family for free in the future.
Well Jessica, I might agree except shes actually watching the movie on the ceiling…
They always clear the schedule for us when it’s our day at the dentist. Fortunately, our dentist is one of our closest friends, so no one minds children in the halls, breakroom, or staring down into a sibling’s mouth!
Have you ever read Weston A Price’s theory (I guess it’s a theory.. it’s what he came up with after research) about tooth decay/crowding/etc? He was a dentist who travelled the world in the 30’s and documented teeth of several people groups.
If you have, would you agree with him at all? Does your experience/history with dental stuff match up with his observations? I’ve been reading his book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration (on kindle! let me know if you’re interested in it!) and am fascinated by it.
I actually have read some of his research, but it was years ago, when my kids barely had teeth (and before I started taking them to the dentist) so I cant really comment. I suppose I should revisit his stuff…
It seems like a lot of the dental issues you are dealing with, would be worse had you avoided dental care. I may be wrong, however I know a very large group of people who wait until their children are 10+ age wise to even see the dentist once. not all people wait obviously but a lot! I was surprised by that esp bc the mil dental coverage is not bad comparatively. My kids have seen the dentist since they were old enough, and I really that prevents larger problems. Its great that you stay on top of it, realy.
That is so crazy that there are so many missing teeth! My son had his first xrays when he turned 4 and he actually has an extra tooth between his 2 front adult teeth. We are watching it for now, apparently they can somehow go away on their own…otherwise it will be oral surgery to remove it.
I got a good chuckle that future dentist Avi was actually watching the movie. 🙂