Flora Lin's First Trip to the Dentist

This little Punkin' Pie...

She did so, so well!  When I think of the surgery, shots, blood draws, X-rays, broken leg, speech therapy, physical exams and all of the other things we do and have put her through...  I am just amazed at her ability to roll with the punches.  And the physical pain this little one has had to endure (and not just from infected ears and decaying teeth)... and endure alone.  Not knowing that she even needed to be rocked to sleep at night...  That such a thing even exists...  Jerking awake and looking me in the eyes to see if I really am still there over and over...  Then finally falling into sleep.  She didn't even know she needed a mama.  And yet, she smiles, overcomes and loves!

I have been putting off the dentist forever.  Knowing that it needed to be done, but so afraid of the outcome.  I was scared that most of her teeth would be pulled and replaced with silver ones, or worse pulled and not replaced at all.   Afraid that with her just beginning to feel comfortable and pain free with her mouth and ear tubes, eating would become a pain and her anxiety would increase. Plus, with the surgery, C's medical appointments and FLs broken leg, it just seemed like one thing after another!   And how to explain the dentist, which can be such a frightening thing to a child!

Well, the decision was recently made for me.  FL was complaining of tooth pain and it was affecting her eating somewhat.  Flora Lin doesn't complain of pain.   She's tough - laughing and singing with a broken leg tough.  Playing with her sister just hours after surgery tough.   So Sam made an appointment at a friend's dental practice.

I wish I had taken pictures of my sweet girl before and during, but I was there to support her.  She was so, so brave and cooperative.  The tech was excellent, kept us moving, kept it fun and lighthearted and let me do my job of being a mama. : ).  Oh, I wish you could all see how good she did!  I was bursting with pride!

The bad news is our girl has some significant tooth decay.  It is her reflux, poor nutrition and possibly poor dental hygiene that are the culprits.  The hygienist said our brushing, letting her only have milk and water for a drink and a VERY limited amount of sugar is what has kept them from progressing any more.  Because her teeth are so fragile, we will be continuing our low/no sugar diet and milk and water only.

The gray areas on the teeth below are issues that must be addressed.   The black and red areas are severe and urgent.  Tooth "I" is the one requiring the most extensive work and will be addressed first.   

She will have the dental work done in three stages.   She will not be fully sedated, but I am going in prepared for her to react big and have to possibly resort to putting her under fully, which is fine.

The good news is that she will most likely not have any teeth pulled (unless they get in there and things are much worse than anticipated) and will only have one silver tooth (the red and black one above)!  I was so worried about this and am so relieved!

They are also going to keep an eye on her one front tooth that she uses to bite and pull food with.  It is not in good shape, but they gave us a vitamin/ mineral paste to rub on it two to three times daily.  Whatever it takes!   We are also going to continue to brush her teeth twice daily.  I'm thankful she is so great about all of the things we have to do to her on a daily basis.   She is such a tough little Warrior Princess!

For the families preparing for their child, cleft or no cleft, please get dental insurance before you adopt your child.  C's teeth look really good, but FL needs so much done.  I am thankful we added family dental to our insurance at the last minute!  I am including our estimate as an example of what may lie ahead.  Be prepared!

I need to also add how gracious and kind the dentist has been to our family.   They are giving us a big break on services.   It isn't reflected below, but, wow, what a blessing it is!

So, back to FL.  She had a cleaning, several X-rays, an exam AND got to pick some prizes.  She got a new toothbrush, a bag of goodies and a cute little bracelet that she managed to destroy an hour later (beads everywhere, everywhere in my car).  She was very excited to show it all of to Charlotte, who turned green at the sight of the lovely bracelet and plastic bag.  She heard all about how FL got her teeth brushed with a tickle brush, nailpolish painted on her teeth (tooth varnish), vanilla flavored medicine for her teeth, a new toothbrush, a rare bracelet and pictures taken of her mouth with a special camera, all while playing with a pie-pad (iPad )!!!!   C was. not. happy.  Previously, she was reminding us that she didn't have to go to the dentist.  Just Flora Lin.  Her tune has changed now!

C is my more expressively fearful child, so we haven't pushed a dental visit.  She also has been brushing her teeth since before we met her and they look to be in great shape.  We were going to put off a visit as we didn't want to traumatize her, but by the end of the day she was almost in tears, saying over and over, "Mama, weady!  Weady fo' dentist!   Weady, pease!   Shawyotte bag, pease!"

Who knew that a little plastic bag would mean so much?!

All in all I am pleased and relieved.  I am a little apprehensive about the upcoming procedures for FL, so would you please pray for our family and our Warrior Princess, Flora Lin?

* pray that the dentist will allow me to come back with FL

* pray for minimal anxiety and pain for sweet FL

* pray that all goes as smoothly as possible

* and I'm sure Charlotte would like a prayer that she gets to go and get a bag as soon as possible!

Thank you!