Dental Dilemmas

I’ve never had problems with my teeth. Never had to wear braces. Only just recently had to have my first filling. And I didn’t know that I had a baby tooth until I moved to Nashville and started going to the dentist here.

Yep, I have a baby tooth. The X-rays are actually really cool, because you can see the adult tooth that never descended hanging out somewhere in my gums. I like to say that my teeth suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome. They just didn’t want to grow up!

Then came yesterday. My check-up and cleaning at the dentist. Yay, right? It started well. My new hygienist said I had “beautiful teeth.” Then the dentist came in and this conversation happened:

Dentist: Did you know you still have a baby tooth?

Me: Yes (thinking, Yeah, you point out the stupid thing every time I’m here. Do you think I’m stupid?)

Dentist: Well, I’ve researched this problem since I had another patient about your age with this same exact problem. . . .The dental surgeon said that we shouldn’t leave that undescended tooth up there because it could cause you problems in the future. Do you understand?

I nod.

Dentist: One of your options would be to pull the baby tooth and use the adult tooth. We could pull it down with braces.

I think to myself, who wants braces at almost 30 years old?

Dentist: Or we could pull the baby tooth, surgically remove the adult tooth, and deal with the space. We could do a bridge or implants.

I begin to understand that this could cost more than my college education. Stupid baby tooth! I think to myself.

Dentist: This is something you need to think about. Do you want to do anything today?

Me: Um, no.

Dentist: Well, think about it.

Me: OK, I will

I have no idea how this little saga will turn out at the moment, but if you see me running around with braces, you’ll know what happened. 🙂