Help Charity Smile Again, Emergency Dental Needs

As far back as I can remember everyone in my family had dental issues. Despite regular dentist visits, and oral care it was always there. It was just something I viewed as normal, that my teeth always hurt and never seemed to get better despite all the work and efforts. It wasn’t until I was grown up that I realized it wasn’t the norm and that there are people in the world that are just predisposed to poor genetics when it comes to their teeth and lucky for me I drew that card.

In 2009 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. An autoimmune disorder that primarily affects my intestines but also affects my whole body, including my mouth. I lack a lot of nutrients that my body needs to keep my bones and teeth healthy, including calcium, from my restricted diet.

My teeth have always been a problem, my whole life, but they were manageable. Something I kept thinking I would be able take care of one day. Then in 2019 I got so sick to the point of almost dying. I spent most days vomiting for hours, multiple week long visits in the hospital and most waking hours in severe pain. The last thing on my mind at the time was my oral hygiene, I was just trying to keep myself alive. My teeth took a major hit. And then you add on top of that my genetics, and the unreasonable prices of the American dental system.

I've reached a point of no return unfortunately. According to my dentist I need 14 teeth extracted, because of severe underlying infection, which could be fatal if left untreated. In the US if I got my extractions done, plus a preventive jaw bone loss procedure it’s quoted at around $8000, including insurance. That’s not including implant, or dentures, or allll of the other things work that I desperately need. To get everything I’m looking at between 30-40k. There’s no such thing as dental grants, insurance only covers a very small portion of what I need per year, and from being chronically ill and falling behind in times or sickness, I’ll never qualifying for financing.

My only real option is to go to Mexico. All of the work that I need done and to ensure I don’t ever have to go through this again is around $15k. Which is still a lot but significantly cheaper than here in US.

I unfortunately don’t remember then last time I smiled with my mouth open in a photo, didn’t experience some sort of pain while eating, have a level fear of going out in public and smiling to big. I’ve taught myself to not move my upper lip too much out of fear of being judged. I’d really love to laugh in public again and not fear that after all these years, what takes me out is a darn tooth infection.

I’m working on all financial aid that I can to fund this on my own the best I can, and working my own finances as well and I know that times are hard right now, but if you have the desire to help me in this journey I’d be forever grateful. Making this isn’t something I take lightly, I promise.

Any and all donations will be going to the overall dental bill, and recovery time post operation

If I’m lucky enough to get more than I need the remainder of donations will be donated to a non profit working towards Universal Healthcare in the United States.