I'm not from the U.S. but I was that kid. I broke my teeth when I was 6. My dad took me to the local dentist who told me to "leave him as it is" for a decade.
Except my teeth were my second teeth, and they were half broken. I was walking around with half-blackened by the rot teeth, which caused all sorts of health problems on top of all the bullying and the first kiss kids tend to take came to me after I fixed the teeth.
And don't get me started with my chronic illness that I've been looking for diagnosis for the last 10+ years.
the dentist regularly examined you and doubled down on "leave him as it is" thoughout a decade?
while a dentist should of course make sure to double check if its the permanent teeth and all that, I feel that your dad did not really fulfill his role as a proper parent here
Except my teeth were my second teeth, and they were half broken. I was walking around with half-blackened by the rot teeth, which caused all sorts of health problems on top of all the bullying and the first kiss kids tend to take came to me after I fixed the teeth.
And don't get me started with my chronic illness that I've been looking for diagnosis for the last 10+ years.