Summer is many things for the kids - relaxing, playing, camping - but it's also time to get in all the appointments that we never get around to during the year. Doctors and dentists and haircuts - oh my!
Thus far, Jacob has had his 7-yr check up. He grew three inches and gained 7 pounds this year - keeping pace with the 75%-line. There wasn't much else to say, and I've found myself sometimes at a loss in the doctor's office when I don't have more to discuss. The doctor's like "looks good - any questions?" and I have this moment of panic like: OMG I have no questions.
Allison has thus far been focusing on her teeth - but eyes and hormones are coming up soon. The check-up at the dentist yielded no new cavities (there are two spots they are *watching*) and she's finally got her 6-yr molars coming in. Good news. Bad news - the molars have something called an enamel defect, which is that they are brittle and didn't form enough of the tough outer coating to protect them. There are several things that can cause this - including a high fever or illness as an infant when the tooth buds begin - or it could be something generally related to overall developmental issues. We'll never know. They want to put fillings in/over (I was unclear) after her next appointment in 6 months and they said crowns are not out of the question for kids with this problem. Great. Luckily, there is no expectation that other teeth will have this problem, as teeth develop at different times and whatever stress that cause this was likely short-lived. More bad news - Allison now has special high fluoride toothpaste and she hates the taste (which is helpful in getting her to spit it out).
Today was the 6-month visit to / check-in with the orthodontist, who has also been waiting for the 6-yr molars to come in so that he can start the expanders. Unfortunately for Allison, this means more bad tooth news. We've been waiting for molars to make space and provide anchors for the orthodontia, but the molars are slow going. The molars are slow going because the next set of molars is forming against the current molars. Like plants - molars grow roots down and "sprout" upwards. If the molar does not move upwards, the root grows laterally and then the molar gets "stuck" because the root growth is not pushing upwards anymore. Her 6-yr molars have OK roots, the next set of molars is partially under the 6-yr molars and very close to the jaw bone - in essence - we've run out of waiting time. There are also 2 teeth in the top front and 2 teeth in the bottom front that have begun to grow at a goofy angle. Must make space ASAP. The orthodontist wanted a little time to make a plan, but basically said he'd probably go ahead and either make expanders that were removable, or anchor them to the baby teeth. Anyway, those brittle, slow, 6-yr molars aren't going to be the best candidates for a while anyway. We go back in 2 weeks to hear the plan, the cost (gulp), and set up a time table.
Tomorrow we go back to Madison to follow-up with the endocrinologist. I think she's gained about 3-4 pounds this spring, but height.... I'm not so sure. We'll have to see tomorrow. Hopefully, it's all better news than the tooth business.
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