October 2025 Update: I finally paid back all of my dental debt in September 2025 and it was only with YOUR help. I enjoyed having a full set of teeth for about 1 month until I faced another setback.

Would you believe me if I told you that yesterday (10/25) I went back into the dentist and they found a new abcess and infection? In July 2024, I lost my back two left molars because of a failed root canal and an infection breaking into my sinuses. Now I have two, NEW, very expensive implants and suddenly the other side of my mouth has failed me. It's also a failed root canal - this one was done nearly 25 years ago! It sounds like a really bad joke but that's just kinda how my life has been going! So it starts all over again. Luckily, the infection did NOT spread in my sinuses yet. I had those back 2 molars removed yesterday and I will need another 2 implants - a total of 4! It's really incredible, I know. My current bill now is 3,400,000 won which is about 2,362 USD. This is much better than last time but still a financial burden on top of my other health costs. (I will update the GFM image ASAP.)

But why is this happening? I promise you that I take care of my teeth. I see the dentist nearly EVERY month and yet a new problem developed in a few weeks, just when I wrapped up a huge saga.

Everything is still developing but the only guess I have is that the medication I take to manage my autoimmune disease is making it far more likely for me to develop dental infections. This is a medication called Humira. I have switched to a biosimilar these days to save money but it is the same formula. Whether it's Crohn's or Crohn's treatment, I am having a very bad time with my overall health. It's funny, isn't it? To take care of one problem and to develop another?

So I am back here asking for any financial help you guys can offer. Those of you who have already given a lot - thank you so much! I am really here asking for a few bucks if you can spare it. I already owe you guys so much.

There are many problems in the world and I am so sorry I have to ask for help once again. Any sort of donation helps me face the financial strain of unplanned dental surgery and implant placement.

I really want to pay it forward. In fact, I started to help my friend with her own crisis until I received this news yesterday. It seems that my dental saga is NOT over and the debt builds again.

Anyway, I appreciate any help you can give or I would love to network with other people who have experience with chronic illness, Humira, and sudden dental issues. There has got to be a connection here and I would like to prevent further crises. How can we prevent this from happening again and again?

I will update this ASAP with a photo of my new bill.

xoxo Faith

Initial Post: Friends and family, I'm so sorry to even ask for your help! As some of you may know, I went in for a dental cleaning in July 2024 because I was having some dental pain. I had been to the dentist just a year prior and no issues were found. However, during this visit I found out I had an infection related to a failed root canal that had dissolved the bone leading into my sinus cavity and my left sinus was totally blocked. I didn't know that root canals could fail and I didn't know the failure could happen years later and spread into my NOSE. I was horrified to find out that this issue had been hiding for years and well, long story short, I had two of my back teeth pulled and now I need two dental implants. They are quite expensive!

If you know me well, you know that I already have existing health issues. In May 2016, I was diagnosed first with Ulcerative Colitis before the diagnosis changed to Crohn's Disease because of ulcers found in my small intestine. It's a long story. But what this means is that I already spend a lot on myself to pay for this autoimmune disease. The sudden need for 2 dental implants is not great news.

First, I am truly grateful to be in South Korea where my healthcare is affordable. So why can't you afford this, Faith? Well, it may be cheaper over here but it's still a lot of money for me, personally, to pay all at once. I have been offered a payment plan but this payment plan will put a serious strain on me for nearly a year. Unfortunately, I am behind financially compared to my peers because of my health costs and all of these fun surprises in life. (But why don't you just get a second job? Well, I wish I could but unfortunately working more just makes me sick. It sounds like a terrible excuse but my Crohn's is currently flaring already and I can't risk getting worse. My expensive medication is now weekly so my Crohn's costs have also increased.) And of course I've made mistakes in life and would rather not use a credit card to get through this.

So I'll get to the point. No one has to donate a cent but I wanted to at least try to see if anyone could spare a dollar to help a girl out! My friends have already been supporting me SO MUCH and I feel awful asking for charity, but I need to find some way to ease this burden. I'm not asking for the full amount, but just a little chunk of the cost would help me so much.

In summary, I already spend a lot of money on myself because of an autoimmune disease and the sudden need for dental surgery has placed me in a financially unstable position when I'm already sick. :') I'm typing this with bronchitis now and my implant date is set for January 11th. :')

I'd be truly grateful if anyone could spare a dollar! Please let me know if I can explain anything else further. I don't like to talk about my health too much because I don't want people to pity me, but the truth is that I really can't do it all alone. :')

I love you for even reading this!

In the future, I want to see myself in a financially stable place where I can pay it forward to all of the wonderful people to have helped me along the way. I truly wouldn't be able to survive without my friends.

xoxo Faith