
Help Sarah Reclaim Her Smile: Dental Restoration Fund
Donation protected
Support Needed to Reclaim My Smile (and My Health)
Growing up, I didn’t have much self-esteem. Honestly, I’ve battled depression for as long as I can remember. But one of the very few things I’ve ever felt good about—something that people have consistently noticed and complimented me on—has been my smile. It’s bittersweet to admit that, because even when I didn’t like much else about myself, I could at least feel good about that.
Over the past year or so, that small piece of confidence has started to slip away.
After years without dental insurance, a long and very deep depressive period, and a full year of constantly sucking on cough drops (morning, noon, and night) while dealing with a brutal, unexplained cough, my teeth have deteriorated rapidly. I've experienced sudden, extensive breakage and decay—so much that I now find myself holding back from smiling and even speaking at times. I’ve become afraid to eat, because something might break and all meals are accompanied by discomfort, if not throbbing pain, in addition to the anxiety.
But it’s not just while eating. I’m in a constant, often crippling amount of pain every single day—thanks to ongoing infection and inflammation that are now affecting my overall health, on top of the chronic conditions I already manage.
The good news? I finally have amazing dental insurance with no annual max (cue the hallelujah chorus), and I found a phenomenal dentist who’s worked with me to create a full treatment plan. The not-so-great news? Out of the $22,000 worth of work I need, my portion is still a hefty $10,000.
Every single tooth in my mouth needs attention—seriously, every single one. I need:
- 5 extractions
- 8 crowns (fit for a princess, obviously)
- 4 bridges (one in each quadrant)
- 12 fillings
Getting this work done isn’t just cosmetic—it’s about being able to eat without pain, talk without shame, and smile without hesitation. It’s about getting my life (and confidence) back.
As a single working mom, I’m already doing my best to juggle all the pieces—especially with my daughter's daycare jumping to $875/month this summer. I have zero financial support or involvement from her father, so every dollar has to stretch (and then stretch again). Asking for help like this is deeply uncomfortable and comes with a lot of shame, but I’m doing it anyway—because I know that healing sometimes starts with being vulnerable.
If I’ve ever made you smile, I’d be so grateful if you’d consider helping me restore mine.
Any amount helps—truly—and if you’re not in a place to give, sharing this with your network means just as much. I promise to keep smiling as best I can until it’s whole again.
Thank you for reading. Truly.
— Sarah

Organizer

Sarah Smith
Organizer
Lehi, UT