New Year's Day Accident

My darling boy just had to have 2-wheeled Razor Scooter for Christmas. "All of the big boys ride them" apparently. He got one and was on it every waking hour for a week.

On New Year's Day, he hit a rock - or a patch of grass - or a crack in the sidewalk - or something - and broke his fall, unfortunately, with his beautiful little face. The poor child looked like a car accident victim - I honestly don't think I've ever seen so much blood. I rushed him into the house (and to a sink) and quickly learned that he had apparently landed on the left side of the afore-mentioned beautiful face. He had "road burns" on his left forehead, left cheek, the left side of his nose and his upper (fat) lip. His nose was bleeding (and purple) and, much to my chagrin, his top central incisor (on the left) - an adult permanent tooth - was hanging 1/2" lower than its partner on the right side.

Oh boy...

I, making every effort not to vomit, rushed him to the couch and asked that he remain still and quiet while I tried to call our pediatric dentist. I didn't expect for them to answer, of course, on New Year's Day - but I was hopeful that the exchange could transfer me to one of the dentists at the practice. After listening to the phone ring for 15 minutes, the exchange finally answered and promptly patched me through - to the office manager! She had no dental advice for me and simply suggested that we visit the ER for "some anti-biotics or something".

Feeling that this was unacceptable and less than helpful, my husband called an orthodontist friend of his from his Rotary group who wanted nothing more than to assist us. Unfortunately, he was in Lake Tahoe for the holiday. He urged us to push the tooth back up into the socket and hold it there until we found a dentist somewhere who would "splint" the tooth - our only chance at saving it.

My husband then called our dentist. He does not see children (and won't, we learned, even in an emergency) but he did want to help. He called back within 10 minutes and gave us information on a pediatric dentist who was ready to meet us at his office.

Bless this man's selfless heart - he was wonderful! As we pulled up, he was unlocking his office door and turning on lights. His rapport with my son was fantastic and his personality affable and kind. He, without delay, splinted the loose teeth (turns out that the right central incisor was loose as well) to my sons' canines as his lateral incisors have not come down far enough yet to provde enough support. The procedure went quickly and I couldn't have been more thankful for this dentist. He told me that if we'd have waited until the following morning, there's a good chance it would've been too late. He's hopeful that the tooth will re-root and that all will be fine in 4 weeks when we go back to have the brace removed.

My son was a real trooper. He looked like he'd been in a fight (and had his ass kicked!) but he tolerated it all - and the metal wire now in his mouth - like a champ. He's enjoying the daily trip to Jamba Juice!

Life with a BOY, I guess!