Help Matteo Build a New Smile
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Most people have 28 teeth. I have 13. To understand why, we look back to August, 1977. While driving to work early one morning, I dozed off, lost control of my car, and smashed into a light pole. My face hit the steering wheel (no airbags back then). I broke my upper jaw and palate, almost bit off my lower lip, and got a severe concussion. I lost seven teeth outright, and cracked or loosened just about every remaining tooth in my mouth. I was 19 years old.
Insurance covered my care, so my dentist filled my mouth with crowns and bridges - pulling another tooth and grinding two perfectly good teeth for bridge abutments. He did a great job, I think, for the times. I had my smile back.
As the years passed, I cared for my teeth as well as I possibly could. Brushing, flossing, cleanings - as recommended. But, with the extent of my dental work, and due to materials and methods used at the time, avoiding periodontal issues was virtually impossible. In 1996 I started having serious gum problems and underwent root planing, gum surgery, and a few extractions. This actually worked to stabilize things for many years.
In 2009, I was involved in another accident (not my fault, a large tree fell on a car I was in). Again, I was hit in the head and knocked unconscious; but no broken bones. I cannot definitively point to this incident as the cause, because the dental appliances were 33 years old, but my bridges became loose, and one broke, about a year later. They had to come out. My dentist said it should have been done decades ago. No other dentist had ever suggested that I do this. She was right, though. And, by the time all the work was done - bridges and crowns removed; marginal, cracked, and infected teeth removed - I was down to 13 healthy teeth and looking at 40 to 50 thousand dollars worth of reconstructive work.
Two years ago I enrolled as a patient at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. My team is composed of a student dentist, a graduate periodontist, and UW's fabulous faculty team. We have come up with a plan to give me back my confident smile -providing me with many, many years of oral health and sound nutrition. I have actually had the bone grafts already. They are healed and ready for implants which will support permanent bridgework. I am anxious to move ahead right now. These last two years have been difficult for me. Normally a fairly confident and friendly person, I find myself avoiding social functions because of my dysfunctional smile. It is difficult to chew for proper nutritiuon. And, most difficult for a guy who loves to talk, I have some difficulties speaking so that others understand me clearly - I lithp! So, truly, I gotta get this work done.
But, even though I AM getting a discount through the university, and dental insurance will pay a portion of some of the procedures, there remains an out of pocket balance that I am responsible for. Saving for this has proved difficult as I am a stay home Dad of two amazing twin girls. I do not have much time for part-time work. And my wife Heather's teacher salary does not leave us much after monthly expenses. We will pay what we can and I can sure use your help. Peace and love to you.
Matteo
Insurance covered my care, so my dentist filled my mouth with crowns and bridges - pulling another tooth and grinding two perfectly good teeth for bridge abutments. He did a great job, I think, for the times. I had my smile back.
As the years passed, I cared for my teeth as well as I possibly could. Brushing, flossing, cleanings - as recommended. But, with the extent of my dental work, and due to materials and methods used at the time, avoiding periodontal issues was virtually impossible. In 1996 I started having serious gum problems and underwent root planing, gum surgery, and a few extractions. This actually worked to stabilize things for many years.
In 2009, I was involved in another accident (not my fault, a large tree fell on a car I was in). Again, I was hit in the head and knocked unconscious; but no broken bones. I cannot definitively point to this incident as the cause, because the dental appliances were 33 years old, but my bridges became loose, and one broke, about a year later. They had to come out. My dentist said it should have been done decades ago. No other dentist had ever suggested that I do this. She was right, though. And, by the time all the work was done - bridges and crowns removed; marginal, cracked, and infected teeth removed - I was down to 13 healthy teeth and looking at 40 to 50 thousand dollars worth of reconstructive work.
Two years ago I enrolled as a patient at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. My team is composed of a student dentist, a graduate periodontist, and UW's fabulous faculty team. We have come up with a plan to give me back my confident smile -providing me with many, many years of oral health and sound nutrition. I have actually had the bone grafts already. They are healed and ready for implants which will support permanent bridgework. I am anxious to move ahead right now. These last two years have been difficult for me. Normally a fairly confident and friendly person, I find myself avoiding social functions because of my dysfunctional smile. It is difficult to chew for proper nutritiuon. And, most difficult for a guy who loves to talk, I have some difficulties speaking so that others understand me clearly - I lithp! So, truly, I gotta get this work done.
But, even though I AM getting a discount through the university, and dental insurance will pay a portion of some of the procedures, there remains an out of pocket balance that I am responsible for. Saving for this has proved difficult as I am a stay home Dad of two amazing twin girls. I do not have much time for part-time work. And my wife Heather's teacher salary does not leave us much after monthly expenses. We will pay what we can and I can sure use your help. Peace and love to you.
Matteo
Organizer
Matteo Griffin
Organizer
Seattle, WA