Feeling horribly guilty

[wake_up]

DS has had a spot on a front tooth for a couple months, but DH and I both dragged our feet on dental appointments... he checked to see which dentists are in-network, and discovered DS wasn't on our dental insurance, and we can't add him til January... so I guess we were both hoping it'd go away, or stay ok until then.

Made an appointment for him to be seen anyway, then the office rescheduled the appointment for later, then...
This morning DS woke up screaming and couldn't nurse, put his hand to the tooth and said "owie owie owie," and it's pretty clear it's a cavity with pain involved. I'm just sick about it. We're going in today, but I feel like the worst mom ever.

Trying to move forward, but it's hard not to beat myself up over this. I mean, I watched Sesame Street, I know you're supposed to go to the dentist twice a year and floss every day and whatnot. Duh.

Our appointment is this afternoon at 2:00. Anything I should make sure to know or to ask the dentist? He's recommended by friends as good with kids, but other than that I don't know anything about him (or dentists, or teeth at all in general, really). I haven't been to a dentist myself in years.

Ack.

[lindberg99]

Don't feel bad, a white spot doesn't necessarily mean a cavity. And who knows what was painful for your son. He could have a canker sore starting or something.

I hope everything went okay!!

[JL83]

Don't feel bad. Some dentists don't want to see kids until they are fully 3 unless you suspect a problem. (I think from your sig he's younger than that).

We went when DD was 2 and it was mainly a "here's our office, now have a toy" visit. He was able to look in her mouth super briefly (maybe 10 seconds) and that was it.

[wake_up]

Wow, you were both right! so yeah, went to the dentist and he couldn't coax DS's mouth open, so he referred us to a specialist, a pediatric dentist. He said they could use something like baby valium and laughing gas rather than general anesthesia, so that sounds promising. And then...
while DS was hollering about getting in his car seat, I noticed a white something under his tongue. Further inspection revealed what looked like a gigantic canker sore!

Now DH noticed that DS's penis is a bit red at the tip, and I'm wondering if it's really thrush instead of a canker sore? So many more questions... off to look up some pictures.

Feeling better now, though. It's amazing how guilt/shame can strike. And how strange to feel such relief at finding a sore in my LO's mouth

ETA: it's definitely thrush how totally random.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by wake_up

Wow, you were both right! so yeah, went to the dentist and he couldn't coax DS's mouth open, so he referred us to a specialist, a pediatric dentist. He said they could use something like baby valium and laughing gas rather than general anesthesia, so that sounds promising. And then...
while DS was hollering about getting in his car seat, I noticed a white something under his tongue. Further inspection revealed what looked like a gigantic canker sore!

Now DH noticed that DS's penis is a bit red at the tip, and I'm wondering if it's really thrush instead of a canker sore? So many more questions... off to look up some pictures.

Feeling better now, though. It's amazing how guilt/shame can strike. And how strange to feel such relief at finding a sore in my LO's mouth

ETA: it's definitely thrush how totally random.

At least thrush is pretty easy to treat. Better than a cavity!!