Support to remove my 24yr old infected root canal tooth

Dear friends, family, and compassionate souls,

I write this from a humbling and vulnerable place, in the request of support for a very large dental bill that is upon me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for your unwavering support.

Many of you know and many of you don’t that I’ve been in a very deep healing journey this past year, and really for most of my life. About a year ago, I was on a cleanse trying to address the chronic fatigue and inflammation that I had been experiencing, and at the time I believed to be attributed to long-covid. I was moving slow and trying to figure out what was going on with my body. The cleanse helped a little, but even after eating super clean, prioritizing full nights of sleep and regular exercise for a prolonged period of time, I knew I should be feeling better than I was. I had this knowing that there something about my house that was not supporting my health, and moreover was actually making me sick. I thought it could have been energetic, as I lived in a very busy area with lots of people and lots of sirens constantly passing by my front window, which I was very sensitive to. My house was old too, I had already had an abatement for some of the asbestos found in the ceiling when a pipe broke, and who knows what else could have been living in my 130-year-old home. I sure did love it’s character and charm though, but I knew it was time for me to say goodbye to this space. I went on to sell my house in June and am about to move for the fifth time (and final for a while) since then, trying figure out where I wanted to land. It’s been ungrounding to say the least.

There was a lot going on with my body and brain, but the most significant symptoms I experienced included chronic pain and inflammation, chronic fatigue, brain fog, and a continual and painful clogging sensation in my ears (that two different ENT doctors had no solutions for). I was also getting injured and tweaking parts of my body more often with slower than typical recoveries. These all persisted though the moves, which also made it challenging to make decisions and figure out what was next for me, and ultimately lead me to leaving my job at one of the most incredible companies that I could have ever worked for and that I still align with deeply. Forever grateful for my time as part of the All-One family .

It wasn’t until a few months later that my functional medicine doctor suggested that my ear pain could be mold related and I this was when I started to put the pieces together and finally run some tests. The tests concluded that I had high levels of toxic mold (mycotoxins) in my system and was formally diagnosed with CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). I had a pipe break in my house 2 years prior which they ensured was dried fully and that there was no mold, but as I said, my house was old, and I don’t really trust contractors. I also quarantined from covid in this home, so what was probably also long covid, when mixed with mold just created a breeding ground for even more immune dysfunction.

I could go into the energetics behind mold and other environmental related illnesses or speak more to those who have experienced trauma being more susceptible and sensitive to these toxins, but it is everything. We are a petri dish of our life experiences and there had been many experiences that weakened my immune system and dysregulated my nervous system, and healing from this is part of journey.

I am about four months into a serious detox which consists of at least 50 pills/day, saunaing and sweating regularly, lymphatic drainage and keeping my detox pathways open, and a very clean paleo diet. I am receiving regular acupuncture and working with a number of practitioners and healers who have been and are instrumental in my healing. I am deeply grateful for each of them. This last month I have started to feel better than I have in a long time, and my ear pain is still present, but finally improving. My left ear has experienced significantly more pain and congestion throughout all of this as well.

In the midst of this healing journey, I was confronted with the realization that old root canals could have a negative impact on my well-being and overall health. I was in the 6th grade, probably age 12, and was experiencing severe pain in my mouth. I went to the dentist and ended up needing to receive a somewhat emergency root canal in one of my back lower molars, also on the left side, tooth #19, to remove an infection underneath the root – this was a seemingly routine solution at the time and still is.

Then, about 6 months ago, the world of biological dentistry was brought into my awareness, and I’ve come to understand the not only the hidden risks associated with root canals, but the impact and overall toll the process itself and the dead tooth can have on your health. On top of the other symptoms, I listed prior, I have also struggled with continual digestive issues for as long as I can remember, pretty severely throughout high school, college, and off and on in my adult years as I’ve learned more of what works for me diet wise and how to manage it. This definitely got me thinking, “Could this dead tooth, that’s been in my mouth for 24 years of my life, be playing a role in some of these chronic symptoms I’ve been experiencing and haven’t been able to figure out for most of my life?” I will say, I’ve tried so many of the different diet and health protocols and detoxes out there. Some helped temporarily or for a few years even, but slowly the symptoms would return. I have also always struggled with a decent amount of joint pain and inflammation which is why exercise, yoga, and movement has always been stayed such an integral part of my life. When I’m not moving and stretching regularly, I live with a lot of physical pain and tightness.

I decided to go see a biological dentist who practices the Swiss Biohealth method of dentistry. They specialize in safer protocols to remove root canals, mercury and metal fillings, and cavitations that have formed in the mouth. The main focus this concept and practice is the “elimination of interference fields in the oral cavity, which are the starting point of up to 70% of all chronic diseases.” From their website: “Dead teeth can cause serious diseases. Slipped discs, prostate problems, kidney problems, back problems, joint problems or even heart pain can be the result of this interference field. The root-treated tooth releases so-called "cadaver toxins" (dead protein residues) during its decomposition. These pass into the body via the bloodstream. The dead tooth has nerve-damaging and tissue-destroying effects.” You can learn more about this method and science here: https://www.swiss-biohealth.com/dokumente/the-swiss-biohealth-concept-us-web.pdf. I also encourage you to look into the research of Dr.. Weston Price who back in the 1930's found that over time root canals lead to infection which causes chemical changes within the body that brings about disease.

They administered the standard bitewing and panoramic xrays, as well as a very cool 3D cone beam xray. Low and behold the cone beam xray revealed a visible infection beneath the root of this old root canal... I’ve since interviewed many peers who have had their old root canals removed, and all of them have shared that they felt better almost overnight.

The dentist highly suggests it, but I also know intuitively that removing this tooth and replacing it with a non-metal zircona ceramic implant is something I need to do and I know it will support my overall health.

Something else wild happened when I looked up the meridian associated with this tooth. All teeth are connected to meridian channels in our body, which are the networks of Traditional Chinese medicine through which energy flows. The meridian associated with tooth #19 is, the left side of my large intestine, where I’ve literally experienced the most pain and discomfort within my digestive tract for decades. If this tooth alone can alleviate these symptoms I’ve experienced for most of my life, that alone will be worth it! I think it will resolve even more though. It will allow places where energy has been stuck or stagnant to move freely and therefore support the whole ecosystem of my body again. Afterall, every single function in our body is interconnected. My body is a web that’s slowly and gently being untangled right now.

Navigating this journey of dental health alongside my ongoing detoxification from mold exposure has been both enlightening and challenging. While I have surrendered to investing in prioritizing my health right now, so I can be vibrant and full of energy as my life and future chapters progress, the financial burden of this dental work does weigh heavily.

Of course very little in this medical model is covered by traditional insurance and the cost is very significant. Since leaving my job in October, I’ve already invested around $9000 into my health. This doesn’t include the several expenses I’ve spent out of pocket on my health last year and several years prior, as I tend to work with and need a lot of out-of-network providers. The total of all dental related expenses which include the root canal extraction, the implant and a few old filling repairs total close to $12,000. I find myself in a position of vulnerability, reaching out for support from my community.

In reflecting on my journey thus far, I am reminded of the transformative power of embracing change, leaning into uncertainty, and trusting this is part of my souls evolution. Your contribution, whether large or small, does make a difference. Even the smallest gesture of support is deeply appreciated and will make a meaningful difference in my healing.

Though I would never wish what I’ve experienced onto anyone, I will absolutely and undoubtedly show up as a beacon of support should you ever find yourself in a similar position of need. As I embark on this next chapter of my life, I am committed to paying it forward and being a source of support and inspiration for others on their paths to wellness and wholeness as well.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey and for considering supporting me in this time of need. Your kindness and generosity mean more to me than words can express.

With heartfelt gratitude and endless love,

Kayla