Dear Grey,
I can’t believe we made it to this point, but you are now the brave wearer of a palate expander for the next six months. And more than just our “Joy Boy” it turns out you’re also a “Super Trooper”!
For starters, it’s never been easy for you to go to the dentist. Along with being sensitive to loud sounds and having your petite mouth stretched open, you’ve also got a hypersensitive gag reflex. Your last cleaning ended in a complete panic-attack-meltdown with throw up all over you, me and the dentist. Needless to say that cleaning was never finished though my search for a dentist who offers nitrous-oxide immediately began.
There’s a pediatric dentist on Park Ave praised for her work with anxious children, and while out of network, I decided it was worth the trek to the east side and the extra cost for laughing gas. “Whatever it takes” was my motto to get through routine cleanings and hopefully the placement of long overdue sealants. Besides tingling fingers and wagging feet from being “high”, you made it through both procedures without panic or a single tear! Go dentist, Go Grey!
It was actually a good thing we switched to a different practice because their orthodontist determined you needed a palate expander. What the heck is that?! I thought. I’d never heard of one, but come to find out they’re really common and lots of my friends kids have had them. A retainer-like device, placed across the roof of your mouth is tightened every other day, gradually expanding the palate so crowded teeth can more easily descend. Sounds easy enough, right?
Still, I prepared myself for those first days after its placement, getting advice from friends and mommy blogs saying to invest in a kids water pic, offer unlimited ice-cream, and ready yourself for an uncomfortable, drooling and upset child for the first couple of days. But also, every single person promised that yes, it does get better … just hang in there … he WILL get used to it.
They were right. Those first 48 hours were rough going. Your rage was unlike anything I’d seen from you before. Crying out that you were hungry through slurred speech, refusing to eat ice-cream, rolling around on the floor sobbing, throwing your stuffed animals, kicking your bed. “This isn’t fair! How long do I have to wear this Mommy? I can’t eat and I’m SO hungry!! I HATE this!” Your brother scarfing down Shake Shack in the other room probably wasn’t helping much.
Those first days you settled for and survived on Gogurts, chocolate milk and chocolate pudding. Then gradually you started eating sausages, meatballs and peanut butter and most of the other things you love. The only things you had to give up were your favorite cashews and anything chewy. We learned this the hard way when one of my my Christmas cookies caused your expander to loosen on one side — bad Mommy! — but thankfully we got in to see the orthodontist before the holiday weekend. And get this — you had it removed, repaired AND replaced WITHOUT ANY NITROUS! I couldn’t believe it! She asked you if you wanted any or if you thought you could get through without it. “I don’t think I need it,” you bravely said. I couldn’t have been more proud.
On our way home after your nitrous-free visit!
Nowadays you don’t even notice it. You eat without hesitation and never complain when it’s time to tighten the expander. Sometimes you even tell Daddy he didn’t tighten it enough. Teeth are now coming down, space is being made between them and the orthodontist said it’s even helping your underbite. So much so that you may not need the nighttime retainer they planned for you to use.
In such a short time you came such a long way, overcoming your fears and discovering the courage within yourself. When I tell you how beautiful your smile is and how incredibly the palate expander is working, you can’t hide the pride. You can’t help but smile.
And thankfully you are back to scarfing down Shake Shack — your favorite burger and fries — alongside your brother. Like nothing ever changed.
I love you “Super Trooper”. Always and forever.
Mom