Garrett the Great White

Have a look at Garrett.



Let's put aside, for the moment, his spot-on impression of a certain Edvard Munch painting, and focus on this.


Garrett's got a new set of teeth. And he's growing them in rows. Like a shark.

Sharks' teeth grow in multiple rows, with new ones moving to the front line as the older soldiers break off or fall out.

When I went looking for a picture of shark teeth in rows, I found the usual gory Jaws photo assortment but was taken aback to find several shots of children among the images. A click and a look revealed that they all had two rows of lower teeth. Like G. And pediatric dentists have a name for these children: shark-teeth kids.

Garrett is a shark-teeth kid.

This revelation will come as no surprise to his brother, Ben, their cousin Gabriel, or G's friend Owen back home -- all of whom have been on the receiving end of Garrett's chompers through the years. Love bites, indeed.

So now we have to find a family dentist who speaks English and is gentle with kids. So s/he can yank out Garrett's front teeth.

Actually, reports are sort of mixed on how best to address this. If you, dear reader, have any experience with this and care to share, I'd appreciate it.

You think you've thought through all the scenarios of what could happen over the course of a year abroad, away from your turf and familiar services. Then your kid starts sprouting teeth like a shark.

I'm sure it will all be okay. Modern dentistry -- even in eastern Europe! -- can do wonders. Look what it did for these guys.