Dental Implants for Bobby Brake

I am reaching out for help with a medical event that has been both challenging and transformative. Last year, on July 6th, I underwent surgery for full dental extractions, a procedure that became not just a remedy but a lifeline. An infection below my gums had gone septic, and was leeching into my bloodstream.

For nearly a decade, I silently suffered through a cascade of dental issues that began during my teenage years. I can still remember the moment as if it happened this morning. I was watching Ghost Adventures on the couch at my parents house when my teeth, without warning, began to disintegrate. My immediate thoughts was that there were crushed up smarties in my cheeks. I ran my finger across my molars, and it turned out to be my teeth. I used my fingernail to scratch the surface, and my tooth fell apart like a sugar cube in water. Powder. 

I kept this quiet and made the difficult decision to forego regular dental visits. Even after my mouth was repaired by my dentist so I could be sent to Cape May, New Jersey, my fillings would routinely fall out, rendering the effort useless. Brushing twice or even three times a day offered no reprieve as my teeth continued to break apart and fall out regularly. Frustrated, I chose to focus on what brought me joy—building cars, spending time with friends, playing video games, and pursuing my work.

Over the years, the pain intensified, and daily activities became a struggle. Emergency funds and attempts to secure affordable dental care were met with quotes ranging from $60,000 to $80,000, creating a financial barrier. With pain levels reaching an 9 out of 10, I resorted to chewing using only my front teeth for a couple of years, a compromise that highlighted the urgency of the situation.

I had an appointment scheduled for August this past year, planning to endure the pain a bit longer. However, a sudden and excruciating escalation of pain forced me to reconsider. I woke up on July 6th to my teeth feeling as if they were white hot. Any contact between my top and bottom teeth was enough to make me exclaim unwillingly. In the face of an unbearable toothache, I reached out to my dentist and told them I thought something was wrong. I was right, there was something wrong, and the dental team expressed concern about the severity of the infection.

Hours later, I underwent 24 complete extractions. This decision that not only relieved the pain but, more importantly, avoided a potentially fatal outcome. 

The infection had reached dangerous levels, impacting my sinuses, eyes, and neck. It turned out my body was sounding the alarm bell, the infection had gone septic and was getting into my blood. Septic oral infections can become fatal within 12 hours (Feinstein Institute), and I had had the infection in my mouth for years. There was no time to make a decision.

I have now been without teeth for 6 months. It's pretty much what you'd imagine. No crunchy food, a new lisp, and the anxiety that everyone thinks you're on drugs. This is especially hard to deal with being a retail manager. I feel that associates respect me less due to my appearance, new hires think I'm on some kind of release program, and customers must wonder why the manager they just asked for looks like a drug addict.

I would also hate to see the day my daughter points out a drug addict, noticing they have no teeth like daddy. As much as I pretend I don't think about it, it hurts to not be able to share a true smile with my daughter when she reaches milestones. 

I am now at a crossroads on my journey to rebuild not just my dental health but my life. The next step involves dental implants, a crucial procedure for restoring not only my smile but my confidence and quality of life.

Unfortunately, I do not believe that my sensory and stimulation issues would allow me to be comfortable wearing standard dentures. I wore standard dentures directly after my surgery, and could not keep them in for more than an hour. I know you have to get used to them, but the pallet on the roof of my mouth being covered is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

I am reaching out with a GoFundMe campaign to raise $50,000 for the necessary dental implants. Your support, be it financial contributions, sharing this campaign, or offering words of encouragement, means the world to me.

**How Your Support Helps:**

- Dental Implants: Funds raised will cover the cost of dental implants, ensuring a lasting solution to rebuild my smile.

- Continued Well-Being: Your support contributes to my overall health, relieving me from the physical and emotional toll of prolonged dental issues.

- Restored Self-Confidence: As a retail manager, my professional appearance means a lot to me, so I constantly feel like I am hiding my mouth from customers to be taken seriously.

I understand that we all are dealing with financial hardship the past few years; and any support you can provide is deeply appreciated. Thank you for being a part of my journey towards rebuilding my smile.

Sincerely,

Bobby Brake