An Inconvenient Tooth

I've had a couple of questions about this, so I'll go ahead and post about it.

Kiernan lost his first tooth a little bit ago. Yeah, it's way too early for him to be losing his first tooth. As his final year of preschool neared its end, he informed us that he had a loose tooth. At first we thought he must be joking, or imagining it, or something, but upon close inspection it turned out he was right. So we took him to the dentist. We didn't know if this was outside the norm or not, so we made an appointment just to be safe.

His dentist told us this was not the norm. Kids don't start losing teeth until much later (say, seven years old), and if a kid is going to lose a tooth early it will not be an upper tooth. Four years old for an upper tooth was way too early. So she did an x-ray.

Turns out Kiernan has what is known as a supernumerary. Basically he has an extra tooth. It was butting in between his baby tooth and his adult tooth, so the baby tooth had to go. It fell out one day at dinner while he was eating a pear. He was very excited and the Tooth Fairy visited and everything. Anyway, his dentist suggested we consult with an oral surgeon, which we did.

He was great. He looked at the x-ray and checked out Kiernan's mouth and suggested we have the supernumerary pulled. He said we could just wait if we wanted and see if it came in and have it pulled later, but it was probable that the extra tooth would influence the development of the teeth around it. So we decided to have the tooth pulled.

This isn't that big of a deal, apparently. The supernumerary tooth is visible. It has already poked through the gum. As soon as the surgeon saw this he was clear on his recommendation because all he has to do is reach up with his instruments and pull the tooth out. No cutting or anything. Kiernan will have to undergo some sedation. This will involve some nitrous oxide as well as a liquid anesthetic that he will drink before the surgery. He'll also get some local anesthetic. I'm trying not to be nervous about all this.

Kiernan certainly isn't worried about it. He's not crazy about not getting to eat or drink in the morning, but he loved the whole Tooth Fairy visit, and he has clearly enjoyed the attention he's gotten from being the only kid in preschool with a lost tooth. It was funny to watch him preparing to see his swim teacher again, anticipating her reaction to the gap in his upper front teeth.

He goes in for the surgery in the morning. Tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.


[This picture taken at Sally & Layne's pool yesterday.]