Baby Teeth

I do not know about other moms out there - but I have always thought of myself pretty good about taken care of my kids and their health. I always get their immunizations on time - take them to the dentist when old enough twice a year - force them to bath or shower a few times a week. So I am shocked that my little 18 month old has to have his two front teeth worked on---in the hospital where they can put him to sleep! In two weeks, I will hand a stranger my baby to have them put him to sleep and hope there are no complications. Most people would point out that hundreds of thousands of people have this done everyday. But our family has seen what happens when a problem occurs. My husband;s Uncle went in for a very routine surgery --- he had stomach fluid come up during surgery and get in his lungs. He has now for at least 6 years it may have been longer - been on oxygen, in a wheelchair most of the time, and cannot be active in anyway - cannot even work -- because someone didn't do their job like they were suppose to - and there was a freak accident.

I realize that the odds everything will be fine --- but I watch as my 18 month old learns a new word a day - and puts words into sentences already - knowing from having 4 other kids - that he is really ahead for his age -- and I fear having him come out different. I mean I would be feeling different if it was life threatening, but it is not. Granted if it is not taken care of the cavity in his front tooth will spread like wildfire to his other teeth.

As a parent what are you to do? Just trust the "experts" and pray for the best? Figure maybe you will have a miracle if you do nothing and the cavity will not spread and you can wait until he is older? Have them pull the teeth and deal with the "no teeth" until he is older and then fit him with a pair of fake teeth until his big permanent teeth show up?

The problem with his teeth is his right front tooth has a little hole in it. His left front tooth is discolored -- both are from cavities. His teeth being more prone to cavities, growth being a little slower than normal for his age, drinking white grape juice as the doctor told us to have him drink, use to be on a pacifier, and lack of fluoride in well water have more than likely all contributed to this happening. The DDS said there is not one thing to point to --- it is like pulling a piece of straw from a broom and trying to sweep - but all together the straw makes a whole broom. The same is with his teeth - not one thing is the cause - it is all them combined.

So now I will be praying A LOT to find the answer of what we are to do. Once I get a feeling of that - then I will be praying that I will have the peace I need to follow whatever that is. Life as a parent is never ending of the worrying. If you are not worrying about big things, then you are worrying about the little things like "Did they put there helmet on before riding down tho their friends house? And did they remember to put shoes on this time?" Then life throws the unexpected in to the list of things to worry about. When that happens all the other concerns seem to just disappear for at least a minute.