The tooth fairy is going broke...

Gabriel has lost 2 teeth in the last two weeks and at this rate, I'm worried the tooth fairy is going to be broke.

Unfortunately or fortunately, which ever way you look at it, our son has a very expensive mouth.  He's had more dental work done than well, I think any other person I've ever met.  The good news is that despite his many trips to the dentist for various work (cleanings, cavities, root canals, extractions, you name it), he still likes to go to the dentist.  That is the good news.

The bad news is that he is losing his baby teeth at a very early age.  Just two weeks ago he came to me and said, "Mom, I have a loose tooth" and sure enough he did.  One of his molars, I guess the one you are not suppose to loose until you are 7 or 8 was hanging on by a thread.  After going to the dentist and having to have the tooth extracted, we were told he'd have to have a spacer put in to hold the opening until his adult tooth grows in (in at least 2 to 3 years). 

On the eve of our return trip to the dentist to have the spacer implanted Gabriel came up to me and said, "Guess what Mom, I have another loose tooth" to which I replied, Man I hope it is just a loose cap (or what Gabriel calls his Gold Teeth".  I told him we'd figure out tomorrow and ask when we got to the dentist. 

Sure enough, the very next day, after implanting the spacer, the dentist took an x-ray and learned that indeed his very back molar, the one he's not suppose to loose until he's around 11 was coming out.  Given that these teeth both had major work done to them, the doctor calmed my nerves and said it was probably because of the root canals done on them.  Still I worry.  So since the tooth was loose and his 6 year molars (I understand which is the first of one's adult set of teeth) are starting to come in right behind the loose tooth, I learned that we'd have to have that loose tooth extracted as well.

After getting the second quote for the next tooth extraction, plus the impression cost, the spacer cost and installation charge, I really did wish that Gabriel's "gold teeth" really were gold. 

Being that I am super cheap and that we could save $200 by pulling out the tooth our self, I decided to give Gabriel a little incentive to work on loosing up that tooth himself.  I told him the secret of the tooth fairy.  I said, "Gabriel, did you know that when I was younger I had to have some of my teeth pulled at the dentist too?"  "Really Mom?  Why?"  Ignoring the why question, I continued on with my plan... "Gabriel you know what I found out after having the dentist pull my teeth?"  "What Mom?"  "Gabriel, I learned that the tooth fairy brings more money when you pull your own teeth out instead of when the dentist pulls it."  "Really Mom, I'm going to pull it out right away?"

I know what you are thinking, and I too at this point, was feeling a little bit guilty but seriously $200 is ridiculous for pulling out a tooth that is already loose and going to fall out on its own.  Seriously. 

And once we got home Gabriel was convinced and determined to get that tooth out on his own.  He wiggled it during supper and before bed.  The next day he went to school and wiggled it while he was on the playground. 
That night he decided to show dad just how loose it was.  It was so loose that it was only hanging on by a tiny piece. Gabriel asked Dad to help him pull it out. While Dad, Gabriel and Michael worked on the situation, I took pictures...

ahhhhh

Let's see assistant Michael, if I try to squeeze my finger in here, we can wrap the floss around the tooth and gently pull it out.

Unfortunately after about 10 minutes of trying to maneuver his fingers into Gabriel's tiny mouth, Gabriel decided to take matters into his own hands.

That's one determined kid I tell ya.

But even after several minutes of trying, he couldn't get it out and we went to bed more hopeful for the next day.

And the very next day as I picked Gabriel up from school, he walked proudly toward me with a huge sticker on his shirt that said, "I lost a tooth"  As we greeted he said, "Mom, I lost my tooth!  Now the tooth fairy can come and bring me lots of money!"

And guess what, that night the tooth fairy did come and she brought him double what he normally gets, a whole $2.00.  Seriously, I totally owe the tooth fairy she saved me $198.00.  I just hope he doesn't lose any more because it won't just be the tooth fairy going broke, but Mom and Dad will too.

Until next time,
Angie