Jackson Got Braces!

Wow!  My kids are growing up too fast.  My 2nd grader... got braces today!!  Yikes.  When did kids start getting braces so young, by the way?  I was in 10th grade when I got mine... and got them off just in time for Senior pictures.  Crazy!  Well, after a lot of deliberation and input (the dentist, the orthodontist, other parents, and the trusty internet), we went ahead and had him get them.  He will likely have to get braces a second time around middle school, but this round will hopefully make that next round less intensive.  Right now he only has them on the bottom and he will eventually get them on the top (probably after the first of the year) when some of his adult teeth are in a little further.  On the bottom he has lost 4 baby teeth, and 3 have come in and taken all the room in that space.  There is no space at this time for the 4th to even try to come in.  The fear is that the 4th tooth will try to come in and really mess up all of his other teeth.  Or there is a strong potential that it won't break through and it will begin to fuse to the jawbone.  If that happens he would have to have oral surgery to fix the problem.  Whatever the case, there was going to be some work needed, so hopefully this round will keep the work from being too intensive down the road.  Fingers crossed.

He finished up and seemed a little worried or maybe in pain, but he assured me that he was fine.  He seemed so grown up!  He chose green and yellow for his rubber bands, which he says is just because he likes those colors.  But secretly, we know he actually did it for the Packers.  He wants to be a Packer fan, but knows that Daddy wants his loyalties to be with the Steelers.  He already told us that his #1 team is the Seahawks because he was born in Seattle.  What child of Tom's roots against the Steelers?!  So far he is doing ok with the braces.... A little sore and sticking to soft foods. Hopefully he will do okay and also keep up with the brushing and flossing.  His next appointment isn't until right before Thanksgiving, so we'll see how he does in those two months.  So proud of this little man!  He is growing up too fast for me though.  Where did my little boy go?  Parenthood is tough, but oh so rewarding!  Love seeing my boy grow!

One last picture before his braces are on.  

What fun! The orthodontist is so neat... a sign for him and
he even got a T-shirt and packet of goodies after he was done.

There they are.  He's all set to get some pretty teeth!