Finn Needs Teeth Fund
Donation protected
My name is Finnigan. I'm 23 years old, and I love to smile. I need your help affording the care I need to keep smiling for years to come.
How I Got Here
I have struggled with my dental health quietly for years. Despite doing my best to keep up with regular dental hygiene, I wasn't able to see a dentist for most of my young adult life - a lack of funds and transport made it impossible to afford and receive preventative care (checkups and cleanings) and early treatment (filling small cavities).
Because of this, my teeth have decayed severely: small cavities became big cavities, which weakened my teeth enough for large pieces to break off. My diet has changed and I chew carefully to avoid sore teeth. I face frequent infections that cause swelling and intense pain.
I tried to get care that would stop the deterioration. I sought out a dental school in Philly that said it was cheap and trans-affirming, both of which I needed desperately. I started going and receiving treatment, but struggled to get my dental insurance to cover any of it. Each visit racked up hundreds in debt, and I could barely chip away at the rising cost. They stopped seeing me over a year ago due to the $1,000+ bill I still owe them.
After months without care, progress that I had made is reversing. My teeth are still rapidly decaying and continue to fall apart in my mouth. Two weeks ago, an infection caused my face to swell so badly that I scheduled an emergency extraction with a closer dentist. Thankfully, it went well and I am recovering; nevertheless, I need more dental work done.
Without immediate care, my dental health is only going to get worse. All of my bottom back teeth are beyond saving already, and need to be removed, because these infected teeth are a danger to my health - in some cases, untreated infections can even become deadly.
On top of everything else, my self-esteem has taken a huge blow - I love sharing smiles, but two of my front teeth are visibly cracked and rotten, and make me feel ashamed and embarrassed.
What I Need
My current dentist is much cheaper, but provides cash-only services, and I must pay in full before treatment occurs.
$300 - for fillings. This is the cheapest part of my care, at about $20-30 per visit. As such, this can be started right away.
$150 - for two root canals. These are crucial for saving my front teeth. They need to be done ASAP.
$900 - for two crowns. Once the root canals are done, I would have a few months to find the money for crowns. They're needed on a highly visible part of my smile, so having them sooner helps me to regain self-esteem in my smile, as well as being able to bite into things again.
$400 - for two extraction sessions under general anesthesia. I need 7 more teeth extracted, all from my bottom jaw. (Two premolars that have broken off at the gumline, three molars that are jagged and painful, and two impacted wisdom teeth.)
$500 or more - for a partial denture. Without one, I will struggle to chew and speak. Having a denture is also crucial for preventing my cheeks from sinking in, and keeping my remaining teeth from moving around.
$150 - for transportation costs, suitable toothpaste and mouthwash, and products for denture use and care.
$1200 - my "stretch goal" is to be able to pay off the debt owed to the previous dentist. This will relieve financial burden on me and help me afford preventative care moving forward - I will be able to pay for dental cleanings and so on.
Any funds in excess of my goal will be used towards future dental costs, including preventative care and any unforeseen complications.
Timeline
My series of appointments to provide fillings begins in mid-August.
I want to schedule my root canals for early September, and would really like to have the funds for crowns already secured so that care can progress quickly.
I cannot schedule my mass extractions until I can afford both the extraction sessions and a denture, so this will be at the end of my care timeline. Because the teeth due for extraction are subject to painful and dangerous recurrent infections, I want to have them removed before 2018 ends.
How You Can Help
I can't afford this alone. If you're able to donate even a few dollars, you make it possible for me to speak, chew, and smile brightly.
You can also help by sharing my fundraiser page with your family and friends.
Finally, I urge you to examine your own dental hygiene. If you haven't been to a dentist in longer than 6 months, please schedule an appointment. Appreciate and take care of your teeth in ways I wasn't able to.
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.
Documentation
How I Got Here
I have struggled with my dental health quietly for years. Despite doing my best to keep up with regular dental hygiene, I wasn't able to see a dentist for most of my young adult life - a lack of funds and transport made it impossible to afford and receive preventative care (checkups and cleanings) and early treatment (filling small cavities).
Because of this, my teeth have decayed severely: small cavities became big cavities, which weakened my teeth enough for large pieces to break off. My diet has changed and I chew carefully to avoid sore teeth. I face frequent infections that cause swelling and intense pain.
I tried to get care that would stop the deterioration. I sought out a dental school in Philly that said it was cheap and trans-affirming, both of which I needed desperately. I started going and receiving treatment, but struggled to get my dental insurance to cover any of it. Each visit racked up hundreds in debt, and I could barely chip away at the rising cost. They stopped seeing me over a year ago due to the $1,000+ bill I still owe them.
After months without care, progress that I had made is reversing. My teeth are still rapidly decaying and continue to fall apart in my mouth. Two weeks ago, an infection caused my face to swell so badly that I scheduled an emergency extraction with a closer dentist. Thankfully, it went well and I am recovering; nevertheless, I need more dental work done.
Without immediate care, my dental health is only going to get worse. All of my bottom back teeth are beyond saving already, and need to be removed, because these infected teeth are a danger to my health - in some cases, untreated infections can even become deadly.
On top of everything else, my self-esteem has taken a huge blow - I love sharing smiles, but two of my front teeth are visibly cracked and rotten, and make me feel ashamed and embarrassed.
What I Need
My current dentist is much cheaper, but provides cash-only services, and I must pay in full before treatment occurs.
$300 - for fillings. This is the cheapest part of my care, at about $20-30 per visit. As such, this can be started right away.
$150 - for two root canals. These are crucial for saving my front teeth. They need to be done ASAP.
$900 - for two crowns. Once the root canals are done, I would have a few months to find the money for crowns. They're needed on a highly visible part of my smile, so having them sooner helps me to regain self-esteem in my smile, as well as being able to bite into things again.
$400 - for two extraction sessions under general anesthesia. I need 7 more teeth extracted, all from my bottom jaw. (Two premolars that have broken off at the gumline, three molars that are jagged and painful, and two impacted wisdom teeth.)
$500 or more - for a partial denture. Without one, I will struggle to chew and speak. Having a denture is also crucial for preventing my cheeks from sinking in, and keeping my remaining teeth from moving around.
$150 - for transportation costs, suitable toothpaste and mouthwash, and products for denture use and care.
$1200 - my "stretch goal" is to be able to pay off the debt owed to the previous dentist. This will relieve financial burden on me and help me afford preventative care moving forward - I will be able to pay for dental cleanings and so on.
Any funds in excess of my goal will be used towards future dental costs, including preventative care and any unforeseen complications.
Timeline
My series of appointments to provide fillings begins in mid-August.
I want to schedule my root canals for early September, and would really like to have the funds for crowns already secured so that care can progress quickly.
I cannot schedule my mass extractions until I can afford both the extraction sessions and a denture, so this will be at the end of my care timeline. Because the teeth due for extraction are subject to painful and dangerous recurrent infections, I want to have them removed before 2018 ends.
How You Can Help
I can't afford this alone. If you're able to donate even a few dollars, you make it possible for me to speak, chew, and smile brightly.
You can also help by sharing my fundraiser page with your family and friends.
Finally, I urge you to examine your own dental hygiene. If you haven't been to a dentist in longer than 6 months, please schedule an appointment. Appreciate and take care of your teeth in ways I wasn't able to.
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.
Documentation
Organizer
Finnigan Madison
Organizer
Newark, DE