World’s Worst Mother....

You guys are going to laugh at me - I don't think I can win in this long saga of Jackson's teeth.

As you know, last Wednesday Jackson had one of his two teeth removed. It was very easy to flick out and had no root structure attached. It was obviously misformed and I think it was the right decision to have it taken out. Once out, his feeding improved a lot and he stopped wimpering.

The dentist couldn't get the second tooth, so an appointment was made for today. Up until yesterday, his feeding was fine, but I started to notice some wimpering again, as well as dribbling and a constant need to chew.

Anyway, went to the dentist and she worked hard to get the other tooth out. When I say worked hard - there was more blood this time and Jackson screamed his heart out (first time I have seen tears spill from his eyes). She finally got the tooth out and Jackson promptly fell asleep from the upset and exhaustion of it all.

Upon inspection of the tooth, there was a large root attached. The dentist looked a little shocked and concerned, so now I am wondering if it was the wrong decision to pull the second tooth. I have got myself all upset again, which I know is silly because it is too late now - it's done. But I feel like a horrible person who has taken this possibly fine tooth off my baby. And the more upset I get, the more I am stressing about the consequences of the wrong decision. Poor Jackson will probably never have his front two lower baby teeth so I am worried that he will have crowding, his other teeth might not develop properly, he might have speech problems and, I think worst of all, he might get teased by other children when he goes to kindy/school.

I guess as a parent, you are faced with tough decisions. I know I was damned either way - if the tooth wasn't removed I would have constantly worried that it was affecting his feeding and that he was in pain. But it can't stop me fretting that I have just made a horrid mistake - particularly as I can't get the look on the dentist's face out of my head.

Sorry for being a sad sack - I just want to be a good mum and I hate thinking I am letting this little boy down.

I know Sheena - thanks. I keep telling myself that some mums face SERIOUSLY bad stuff, and here I am getting all upset and stressed over teeth, for goodness sake.

It seems so minor when I think of all the things that can go wrong with children's health and all the different troubles that new mums have to face. I have been comparatively lucky, and I do know that, and I am grateful for the delightful, healthy little boy I have.

I think sometimes the heart rules the mind though and it's hard to help getting upset when you're emotionally attached to the situation. But it does help to put things in perspective - something my DH is great at doing and helping me do. Why does he have to go to work and leave me alone with my imagination?!?!?

Ha ha - Bizzy that is so true!! No doubt I will have plenty to worry about.

Not sure why they didn't xray either. I don't think I misinterpreted the dentist, as she said "oh, ooh, there is a root on that one." But it passed pretty quickly.

I am sure all will be fine at the end of the day...

Its a lot to go through with exhaustion of having a new baby, that alone doesn't always help us think rationally.

As I said in your previous thread I had my front (top) teeth removed so didn't have any until the adult ones came through, I never got teased for it, and I doubt I was the only one to not have a full set, kids are pretty good at losing teeth for various reasons, is probably why we get a second set.

The dentist may have been surprised but she may still have removed it even though it did have a root, not much point in stressing over something that you can't change and I'm sure that in the here and now he is happy he can have his lovely milk with out his tooth hurting him.

Yeah I womder why they didnt do wrays aswell actually, but if the tooth wasnt coming through well...and it was hurting him, then the best thing is to remove it.

He will be all good :) Just think, thats one less tooth you and jackson need to worry about with teething

Edited by Mum2Caden

Laurie, my nephew was attacked by the family dog when he was 11 months old.. He lost one of his top middle baby teeth because of it (dog clawed his face and the claw went into his cheek just below his eye and came out in the roof of his mouth so he needed plastic surgery to fix it)... he never had any troubles with speech and eventually at the age of 6 his top tooth came through perfectly. (oh and he's 13 now and still LOVES dogs)

I know it's alot to say, but don't worry to much about Jackson.. he'll learn to cope without his bottom teeth (if they don't come through) I'm sure he wont get crowding in his mouth, due to the fact the other teeth will come through, and more than likely those two teeth wont... he wont get teased, it's a common sight in young kids anyway and if they are gone a little earlier it just makes him look older than he actually is

Big HUGS hun!!!!

BTW, It's one less tooth to pull when the time comes

Laurie he'll probably be the coolest kid in primary school because he's already "lost" some of his baby teeth - so grown up

My niece had to have a top front tooth removed as a toddler because it was badly decayed (a result of her coeliacs disease being undiagnosed) she was never teased for it, and it wasn't long before other children started losing their teeth too.