Overheard at the orthodontist

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I knew it.  I knew it because I worked at this particular orthodontic office for eight years before securing my current gig, and I know how he operates.* “Let me just dry that tooth off a little with my piece of gauze…”

Boy #1 had a slightly loose tooth.  Loose enough to see when you gave it a wiggle, but not loose enough to be pulled out.  At least not pulled out by me. Or by the boy for that matter.  The adult tooth started to erupt behind the baby tooth (not a good thing…especially in the eyes of an orthodontist) and I knew that once my boy sat in that chair, the gauze was going to come out.

Well, the gauze came out and so did the tooth!  The look on my boy’s face broke my heart.  I knew it hurt.  I could hear the “ripping” sound and the flushed cheeks and watery eyes on my guy confirmed to me what I already knew.

When all was said and done, I walked my boy to the rest room where he could get a rinse of water and a clean paper towel.  While he leaned over the sink this is what was discussed:

ME:  “Hey, buddy.  Here is a clean towel.  Just wipe your chin off and get another rinse of water.

BOY #1  (Silent)

ME:  “I know that must have really hurt.”

BOY #1 “Yeah…It hurt like hell.”

ME: (Silent)

ME: “What did you just say?  (I knew what I heard…I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from laughing out loud.)

BOY #1 “Sorry, Mom.  Heck was not going to cut it.  It just slipped.”

Well, then I did laugh out loud…all the way out to the car.  My boy was worried that he was in trouble.  If you knew my boy, you would know that this incident is very out of character for him, which makes it all the more hysterical!  And you know, he is right.  Sometimes ‘heck’ just will not cut it!

*Dr. John is not a barbaric caveman.  The tooth really did need to come out.  He is really a wonderful, caring, gentle orthodontist.  He just doesn’t like loose teeth!

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