I'm Lauren and if you're reading this you know me. In fact, you may know me in different stages: 

If you know me recently in acting and improv, or perhaps in copywriting or as a trainer, you know me with a retainer on my teeth.

If I haven't seen you in some time but we danced together, you know me with braces.

If I haven't seen you in a very long time, maybe you worked with me in a gym, from martial arts or school days, you know me with messed up teeth.

I have an opportunity to FINALLY FIX MY TEETH and BE ME!!! We can all, for the first time, meet my real smile! And I can take on new opportunities in my career! I won't have to think about my smile EVER AGAIN!

With your help, I can LOSE THE RETAINER! I've now been wearing a retainer for 11.5 years. YEARS!

The possibility that this could all finally change is really hard to believe and is bringing up all kinds of emotions. I'm so crazy excited.

The cover photo of me laughing in profile is significant for me, because it's the only picture of me in my friend's wedding as one of her bridesmaids when I'm actually smiling. I liked the photo, because it was in profile and you couldn't actually see my teeth. It gave me a hint of what my smile *could* look like.

There's hope if you keep reading! I'm beyond grateful you've even read this far.

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I have messed up teeth. I have all of my life. You know this. It's one of the first things anyone sees when they meet me.

The plus side is, according to dentists, I am an "advanced and evolved human" compared to some of the population. We're all destined to have less teeth over time and, lucky me, I'm already there!

My missing tooth and peglateral have caused me to have funky teeth out of place, roots at odd angles, and not enough width of bone in my upper jaw or space between roots to help with an implant, without lots of surgery, time, and a ton of money. But, hey, I've never had wisdom teeth at least! That's been a plus!

I received different advice throughout the years and even spent quite a bit of money and time to fix my teeth--but I got screwed over and, at the time, emotionally scarred when I was already sensitive. 

The retainer I ended up with was a life saver, because it allowed me to start feeling like I could smile in public or in pictures. And that's really just the past 6 years or so. Good luck finding a picture of me smiling with an open-mouthed and teeth-in-your-face smile before that.

I last went through a process of correcting my teeth that was traumatic and emotionally draining for me at the time, not to mention freaking expensive. The Ortho I worked with didn't fix my teeth, she even added complications to my teeth. Like I needed more! And she didn't fulfill her services. Not that I would want her working on my teeth ever again.

After a couple of of referrals, I felt my dental situation was hopeless. The cost was way too much for me, especially to go through it again, and it's not something insurance covered.

I focused on LIVING and just kept my teeth in the background, resigned.

But. If I want to have some semblance of a normal smile or even being a professional in my career or not scaring people in the world at large, I need to wear my retainer. This has caused me to hold back and not pursue more with my career--due to my own esteem and also by being outright rejected. I've been at a standstill.

Not only that!!! The complications and bad work the last Ortho did is finally causing problems. 

But! I'm serious and READY. I've worked through the emotional blocks, I keep working my craft despite my teeth, I need to take care to make sure my teeth don't get WORSE...and I really want a chance to even know what my smile looks like. 

*****Now What?

I recently was referred to a kind dentist who seems able to help me! A CT Scan showed going the original route I was going was waaaaaaay too complex, with surgery on the bone and the works, plus more time and a heck of a lot of money. He has decided on a path that is still up there for me cost-wise right now, but a doable long term solution that can mean I can have a smile I won't ever have to think about again in 3 to 5 weeks!!!

3 to 5 weeks!!!!!!

The thought of that brought me to tears. Never having to think about it again and just going about my life like most of the population.

I'm going through with this.

I could use some help. I have to swallow my pride to be able to go through with this and finally fix my teeth.

Any help at all will be amazing. I'm thankful for any help to bring me closer and closer to my life-long dental goal. To have a birthday as just myself, no retainer. To smile in pictures without metal. To pursue my career, fully.

The whole process is estimated to cost $10,665.  I'm already set to make some payments, but I understand the cost can go up as the process proceeds, I'm currently going a lower cost-route, and GoFundMe has fees, so I'm rounding out my goal and hope to not go into more debt again. Seriously, I will be grateful for any help at all. If you need or want more info, please reach out! I'll give you TMI. :P

I won't ever take my smile for granted. I want pictures with my friends with BIG SMILES!!!