Please Help My Sister Smile Again!

Hello, I’m Bryan, and I’m reaching out to ask for your help for my amazing big sister, Patty, a 53-year-old woman who’s faced dental challenges her entire life. Since high school, when she lost two baby teeth with no adult teeth to replace them, she’s dealt with one setback after another. Growing up, our family couldn’t afford proper dental care, and what started as a simple retainer led to damaged teeth, severe periodontal disease, and now a devastating situation that’s left her hiding her smile. I’ve watched her struggle with pain and embarrassment for too long, and I’m asking for your support to help her regain her confidence with a lasting solution.

The Challenge: Patty’s dental problems snowballed over the years. In her 40s, after decades of jobs without insurance and no access to proper care, she was diagnosed with periodontal disease. By 2018, she got a lower partial denture, but it was so painful it caused bone loss and broke in half in 2023. Around the same time, her front top teeth started loosening, her gums receded, and one of her two front teeth broke in half. A dentist specializing in dentures and implants explained that implants would be the most permanent and practical solution, offering a pain-free, long-term fix. However, her front teeth were too loose to support just one implant, and the full set of implants she needs is expensive.

Instead, she was quoted $7,000 for a lower partial denture and a canine-to-canine crown/bridge, which the dentist warned would only last about 10 years and isn’t as comfortable or durable as implants. She took out a line of credit to pay for it, hoping it would help. But just six months later, the painful lower partial and lack of bottom teeth caused her upper bridge to loosen, fall out, and shatter on her kitchen floor. Now, she’s left with six exposed, pointy, sharp teeth (that were ground down to make room for the crown bridge). These sharp teeth are causing trauma to her lips and tongue and it's nearly impossible for her to even eat. She is unable to afford another bridge or partial while still paying off the 2023 procedure. She wears a mask in public to hide her teeth, and it breaks my heart to see her struggle to even eat or speak comfortably.

The Solution: Our first choice is to raise $55,000 for dental implants ($50,000) and follow-up care for her periodontal disease ($5,000), as implants are the most permanent, pain-free solution to restore her ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently for decades. If we can’t reach this goal, we’ll aim for $14,000 to cover a new upper crown/bridge ($10,000), a lower partial denture ($2,000), and follow-up care ($2,000), though this would only last about 10 years and be less comfortable. Your support will help us pursue the best possible option for Patty’s long-term health and happiness.

The Emotional Impact: My sister is one of the strongest people I know, but these dental struggles have taken a toll on her spirit. She’s too embarrassed to laugh freely or share a meal with friends. Seeing her cover her mouth or avoid social situations hurts me deeply. Your support will give her more than just teeth—it will give her back her dignity and the chance to live without shame, especially with a permanent solution like implants.

Closing: I’m asking you to help my sister reclaim her smile and her life with a lasting fix. Any donation, big or small, will bring us closer to giving her the permanent solution she deserves. If you can’t contribute, please share this campaign with others. Thank you so much for giving Patty hope and showing her she’s not alone.