Holy Night Mask Ella

Ella had been telling me her mouth hurt where her retainer is.  She uses that to attach binders so she can attach her night mask.  This is all to move her upper jaw forward.  I decided to wait at first and just gave her advil at night.  We had an upcoming appointment in March so I was hoping to not have to do back to back.  She told me it was starting to get worse so I finally broke down and made an appointment.  She saw Dr Cermain on Tuesday of this week.  

As we were heading towards the entrance for Gillette we saw our favorite dental aid leaving.  She had just gotten a call that her child was sick.  So I was prepared for a wait since they were now down one resource.  Thankfully there was a great craft in the theme of Valentine's Day and Ella did a wonderful heart for her teacher Mrs O.  It was super cute and I wish I had thought to take a picture.  But, that took up about 30 minutes.  When she was done we checked at the desk and were sent back.  

The aid looked in Ella's mouth and thought maybe her baby teeth were getting ready to come out.  These are the teeth the metal band is on that attaches to the retainer so maybe that small movement was making Ella's mouth hurt but Dr. C would be in soon to check. 

Dr C looked and felt around and asked Ella to show her where it hurt and when it hurt and Ella was great in her replies.  What Dr C found was that Ella has an adult tooth coming in and the metal cross bar from the retainer was in the way.  So they clipped that to make room.  They also smoothed down the edge to Ella's approval so it wouldn't scratch.  They didn't take the retainer out or suggest a new one.  What Dr. C did say made Ella and I do the HAPPY DANCE.  

NO MORE NIGHT MASK!!!!   Hot Diggity Dog.

Ella has had this one for almost two years and we knew she was close but figured we wouldn't get the ok until the March appointment at the earliest.  I just about cried but kept it together barely.  The last few months has been tough on Ella and making it tough for sleep and she was so ready to be done.  Way to plug on through Miss Ella!  I am so so proud of you. 

We will go back in four months to see Dr C and Dr Woods to make sure all is well.  And Dr C will keep an eye on it to make sure the upper jaw does not move back.  What all this hard work has done is replaced a surgery.  If Ella's jaw hadn't moved as much as it did, they would have had to break her jaw and move it forward via surgery.  That would mean 6 weeks I think with only liquid nourishment.  To tell you how hard this was on Ella, within the last couple of months she did say once or twice that she would rather have the surgery.  But, that was only on her tiredest day and she is so glad to have a break.  

After the appointment we stopped and had lunch.  Ella was gone from school over lunch so she had soup and a sandwich and loved it.  Here is a picture of her at lunch: 

We called Grandma Jo on the way back to school and left a message.  I got choked up when I said our brave girl did such a great job.  Ella asked me were you going to cry Mom?  Yup Sweet Child I was and you are such a strong girl and have been through a bunch with this stuff and you are AWESOME.  I think that is what I said to her - or something close.