Kiley's Teeth

People often look at my daughter in an odd manner because she is so young and has no top teeth in the front (Front 4).... It makes me feel badly because I feel like we did something wrong as parents which is not the case. The photo below is from January 2007. I do not know how well you can see her top teeth but they are nearly gone in the photo. Apparantly, she has an enamel defect on most of her top teeth. I do not know how this happened but when she first started receiving dental care the dentists would always make judgements on how her dental care was or blame it on a bottle or a pacifier. Cups/bottles in bed... not brushing.... etc. etc. etc. (too much juice, yes... we were still having issues with her bowels and had not yet ruled out Hirschsprungs disease since birth).... FINALLY... when Kiley was having dental work done on one of her teeth.... it was then noticed that she had a cavity coming in on a brand new molar that hadnt even broken through yet. THAT was the point the dentist actually apologized for the judgement on our parenting and dental care because it was obvious at that point that there was an enamel defect on her pretty little baby teeth. It seems to be mostly an issue with her top teeth as her bottom teeth do not have much issue. We had been to one dentist who had me hold my baby down as he worked on my kid. It was as if we were having an exorcism. She was making the most horrible noises. Something that would have been a great sound effect for a horror movie. She was pushing her tongue out and spraying spit everywhere. It was really sad. It took everything I had to hold my tears back. It was pure torture for both of us. I was sitting at that point on my daughter and hold her hands to her sides. I was sweating, she was sweating, the dentist was sweating. It was horrid. It was also EXPENSIVE. They put Resin on her teeth.... that was the "fix"... and only got it on the front two. TIME For a new dentist. I did NOT feel comfortable with how things were handled. His waiting room smelled of cat urine type smell. I just didnt get the cozy feeling you would expect to get in a pediatric dentist.
So, I searched and found a new dentist. She was great. A bit harsh but honest and good to my children. She also did some pro-bono type stuff (Resin).... She is the dentist who had apologized and said the issue was an enamel defect. After she completed Kiley's dental cleaning, she was concerned about the condition of the repaired (resin) front teeth. The concern of the teeth getting abscessed under the repair. We brought Kiley home from the cleaning and no sooner were we home, she got mad... and managed to slam the teeth on my foot board for our bed... and broke all that resin off and underneath was her poor, very damaged teeth. I was newly pregnant with CJ at the time and had suffered 2 miscarraiges... I was not going to take any chances with the pregnancy so Chris had to come in because at that point it was decided that we were going to just yank all the top 4 teeth out instead of torturing a 2 year old with repair, after repair. That was the day the pacifier and bottle went away. Forever. No ifs, ands or buts... I had to call Chris in because she would need to be held down. Nitrous was NOT working for her... she was papoosed and still fighting it.... So, my now 4 year old has been without her top 4 teeth for 2 years now. We are waiting for the day her pearly whites come in... and we hope they are healthy. She has 2 silver crowns and has had much work done on her teeth for her age.
We have since had to get ANOTHER new dentist and I can not say enough wonderful things about him. His name is Dr. Timothy Kitley and he has worked past the issues with Kiley having screamed through Valium... and Nitrous.... and he initially worked with Verced which has taken a lot of the anxiety away so that we can use nitrous successfully. Oh, and Daddy brings her... and sits... and says nothing... and she manages to work through her fears! So, my baby has no top teeth. She had them pulled. She has no recollection of her first visit of the Tooth Fairy. She thinks they are growing in but they have yet to show themselves! I will let you all know when they do though!!!!