Help Bring My Smile Back

I was born with Ectodermal Dysplasia, which affects my teeth and skin. I have had multiple surgeries from birth through high school. As a child, having missing teeth was fine when everyone else was waiting for their permanent teeth to come in. As I got older, it became obvious to others that my teeth weren’t coming in. I had an appliance in my mouth at the age of seven that gave me a smile. However as I grew the metal wire on the appliance began to rust and weaken the few teeth that I have. We knew that this appliance would not be a permanent fix, however we did not know it would cause as much damage  as it did. The appliance remained in my mouth until June of 2018, when it loosened, fell out, and broke. For the first time in sixteen years I have been without teeth or a smile. The day I lost the appliance, I not only lost my smile, but I lost my confidence as well. I am a bubbly person who had a job in retail that required me to interact with customers and I gladly interacted with everyone I encountered. I’ve since given up the job I love, because I don’t feel comfortable without my teeth in public. I’ve contacted and seen several doctors in the area who do not know how to treat me. Some have even failed to follow up after they said they would do research and get back to me. My case is a difficult one, as I do not have bone in my gums to withstand typical implants. Although I have insurance, it will only cover less than $2,000 of my costs. I have found at the Medical College of Virginia’s Faculty Practice doctors who are ready, willing, and able to handle my unique case. While I am cautiously optimistic about the treatment plan that they have laid out for me, I am overwhelmed at the enormous cost of a permanent smile. Even if I were still working at my job I would not be able to cover the full cost of this treatment, which is expected at the time of surgery. As a 23 year old I need to get back to my active life and the things that make me who I am. A big part of that is my smile and helping people in my job. My surgery is scheduled for May 16, 2019, and I will be healing for six months. I must have payment at the time of surgery. This is a daunting task to me, as I have no way to pay this amount. Please consider donating to help me regain the confidence that a full set of teeth gives and help me bring back my smile.