Being a Dental Hygienist by trade when I learned that August 22 was National Tooth Fairy Day (yes there is a day). I immediately got a little choked up because I realized that next year main man could be on the verge of losing his 1st tooth around then or will have already. Managing a pediatric dental practice, we encourage the tooth fairy and often tell the children when they have to get teeth pulled, that we have a direct line and that the tooth fairy will be giving double for this one because the Dentist had to “help” it out. I am often surprised when the tooth fairy informs us that they give $20.00 a tooth and we just increased it drastically, but because Dr. Penny says so the tooth fairy listens. BOY $20.00 a tooth… hmm thats $400.00 minimum when all is said and done!

So imagine my surprise when today a friend tagged me in a post on Facebook about the tooth fairy going broke due to inflation! I could see this happening in our house. I can also see my DH and  I having many of discussions on what the going rate should be when it becomes our turn. I remember when my nieces and nephews were loosing teeth as the cool aunt I always gave a cool present or money if I saw them right after it happened. I have in my head that the tooth fairy in our house will give  $20.00 for the 1st tooth and $5.00 for the remaining which will be $115.00 when it’s time for braces  a little better then $400 though!

So my question to my main mama’s is, what is the going rate in your house?

Below is a link to a cute article I have read about  Inflation & the Tooth Fairy. Be advised there is the use of foul language in the article, so if you offend easily, please don’t read it!

http://deadspin.com/5891544/tooth-fairy-inflation-will-leave-you-dead-and-broke

I tend to be a planner when it comes to appointments for myself and my family. I know my pediatrician’s office opens up their appointment books 3 months in advance, so every year on February 18th I have a reminder on my office calendar to schedule main man’s yearly physical. I know that on the Tuesday after Labor Day they open up the flu shot schedule and have a reminder set for that. I pre-book all of our dental check-ups before we leave our current appointment. My husband is in charge of his own physical, but I do have a reminder that on June 1st he needs to call his Dr so he gets in mid August. So being that I plan ahead it boggles me as to why people wait until the last minute to schedule physicals, dental check-ups , eye exams and any other appointment that might either require a follow up or is something that is done routinely year after year or even bi-annually!

I manage an extremely progressive, high tech pediatric dental practice. We always encourage our parents to book their next appointment prior to leaving, even if it is just a check in 2 months. We say this because we are their everyday, we know everyone wants an appointment after 3pm , on the 3rd Thursday of the month for all 3 of their children and they must be out in 30 minutes because they have to pick up their cousin at the airport. Yet on August 21st we still get the phone calls from the frantic parent whose son is leaving for college the day after tomorrow and they have been having a pain in their mouth since early July and do we have anything today and if there is a cavity can it be fixed TODAY and since we are coming can you squeeze in my other 2 children?

Of course we manage to treat all 3 children as well as the cousin who flew in this afternoon who called from the airport because she broke her tooth on the flight. We would never turn anyone away! Yet parents still get upset if we can’t see their child at the exact time they request although they are receiving high quality care and that takes planning and proper scheduling and TIME!

So my questions to you are these. Have you taken the time to schedule your familes yearly physicals? Did you block out time for the families bi-annual dental check-ups? and WILL this post help you make better use of your TIME?