Hi everyone! My name is Kiana and I’m a queer nb femme of color in need of time-sensitive dental surgery. I’m also… very broke!!!! I’m raising funds to get all four wisdom teeth removed in a month from now (Feb 4). I need to remove them asap to ease the current, growing pain and prevent further problems that might occur with my other teeth since all four wisdom teeth are growing in horizontally.

Prior to 2024, dentists told me that my wisdom teeth were stopped in place, and while it was recommended to eventually have the top two removed, it was not a pressing matter. This changed this year when I began to experience jaw pain; as many of you know, I live with chronic pain and assumed the jaw pain was just TMJ and stress. I wondered why I still felt pain despite visits to a TMJ clinic, receiving acupuncture, and trying basically all activities/recommendations possible to reduce stress. In recent visits with two different dentists, I was told that all four wisdom teeth are growing in horizontally and pushing on my other teeth. I now realize much of the jaw pain was actually pain from my wisdom teeth. Both dentists (as well as the oral surgeon I saw today 1/6) suggest I remove all four wisdom teeth ASAP. This update was unprecedented, and I was unable to save in advance; this is because I do not currently make a liveable wage. I am a graduate student working two jobs, and even so, my wages barely cover living expenses here in Portland (let alone emergency medical needs). Very recently I also learned that, due to a clerical error, I was placed on the incorrect dental plan this year by my benefits coordinator. The preferred plan would have provided a larger insurance cap; rather, my dental insurance caps at $1,500. For this reason, I am looking at needing to come up with $1,088.33 out of pocket and could use any help possible.

I know things could be worse. I know we are all passing around the same $20. I know there are many other causes that are worth your $$, and in the grand scheme of things, tooth pain is not the worst problem to have. That said, this pain is greatly impacting my daily life, timely surgery is urgent, and I truthfully cannot raise $1,000~ in a month on my own, so I am asking friends for help! Truly any amount helps, even just sharing this post. And if you’d like to avoid fees on here, let me know and I can send alternative ways to send $$.

THANK YOU!!!