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Hi my name is Marshall Parks and I’m in a bit of a medical predicament that I need some help with. Long story short, due to a severe case of gastro esophageal reflux disease (or GERD) and grinding, my teeth have been permanently and irreparably damaged. For the past year I have been in a battle with my medical and dental insurance companies to help pay for what has been deemed a medically necessary procedure and have been met with road block after road block, leaving me with the options of paying everything out of pocket and being stuck with a massive amount of debt for the rest of my life, or letting what’s left of my teeth erode away completely which would eventually effect my ability to speak, among many other medical issues.
The History
It was around 2008 when my molars started to get a painful sensitive feeling after I ate certain foods. When the pain started to get worse, I figured it was my wisdom teeth coming in. I later found out that my wisdom teeth weren’t the issue.
After living with this for a few years, I eventually found out that the sensitivity was being caused by my GERD problem. My stomach acid was eroding my teeth away and that’s what was causing the tooth sensitivity.
Since hearing that news, I have worked really hard to get my stomach acid issues under control with both medicine, and a drastic diet change. My GERD problem is under control, but the damage to my teeth has been done.
The Current Condition
My teeth are worn down to the roots and continue to chip and wear from everyday use. The pulp in my teeth is exposed on every tooth. Eating food is an everyday struggle. I have to force myself to chew on the right side of my mouth because my back teeth on the left side are literally worn down to the gum and if I chew with those teeth a shooting pain goes through my jaw. On top of this, all of my teeth are sensitive all of the time. It’s a struggle to eat anything cold or super hot, or chewy, or hard. I get a very sharp, stabbing pain from breathing in too quickly as the cool air runs over my teeth. If I drink anything that’s a little too acidic, like anything with citrus in it or even beer, I can’t eat solid foods for a few days due to the sensitivity.
Left: What my teeth should be. Right: What my teeth are.
The Treatment
The treatment is what’s called a full mouth reconstruction. It includes extensive gum work, veneers, crowns and possibly implants. The price is broken down as follows:
Crowns - $34,000.00
Veneers - $10,500.00
Provisional Molds - $10,000.00
Gum surgery - $9,900.00
Diagnostic Cast - $3,050.00
Mouth Guard - $700.00
The Fight
For the past 6 months I’ve had a long and exhausting fight with my insurance companies. My medical insurance company has denied my claim and repels, even with documentation from my primary care doctor, my dentist and my prosthodontist, all claiming that this is a medical issue that will lead to serious medical repercussions (like damage to my jaw and eventually effecting my ability to speak) if left untreated.
My dental insurance company will only pay out $1500.00 a year, if they even cover this type of procedure (which they don’t). They don’t make any exceptions.
I’ve tried a few other things. I got examined at OHSU (a prestigious medical college in Portland, Oregon) to see if they could help me out, but I was told that the procedure that I needed done was too complicated for the students and that they couldn’t help me. I was also told by the instructor that dentures were also not an option due to the bone structure of my jaw.
This leaves me with few other options. I’m currently looking into some alternatives in Mexico.
Where you come in!
I need some help raising money for my mouth reconstruction. I would be extremely grateful for any amount you could give, even if it’s just a dollar.
If you can’t give anything, but share this story, I would be extremely grateful as well.
Also, if you have any ideas or advice, please email me @ [email redacted]
Thank you so much for reading!
The History
It was around 2008 when my molars started to get a painful sensitive feeling after I ate certain foods. When the pain started to get worse, I figured it was my wisdom teeth coming in. I later found out that my wisdom teeth weren’t the issue.
After living with this for a few years, I eventually found out that the sensitivity was being caused by my GERD problem. My stomach acid was eroding my teeth away and that’s what was causing the tooth sensitivity.
Since hearing that news, I have worked really hard to get my stomach acid issues under control with both medicine, and a drastic diet change. My GERD problem is under control, but the damage to my teeth has been done.
The Current Condition
My teeth are worn down to the roots and continue to chip and wear from everyday use. The pulp in my teeth is exposed on every tooth. Eating food is an everyday struggle. I have to force myself to chew on the right side of my mouth because my back teeth on the left side are literally worn down to the gum and if I chew with those teeth a shooting pain goes through my jaw. On top of this, all of my teeth are sensitive all of the time. It’s a struggle to eat anything cold or super hot, or chewy, or hard. I get a very sharp, stabbing pain from breathing in too quickly as the cool air runs over my teeth. If I drink anything that’s a little too acidic, like anything with citrus in it or even beer, I can’t eat solid foods for a few days due to the sensitivity.
Left: What my teeth should be. Right: What my teeth are.
The Treatment
The treatment is what’s called a full mouth reconstruction. It includes extensive gum work, veneers, crowns and possibly implants. The price is broken down as follows:
Crowns - $34,000.00
Veneers - $10,500.00
Provisional Molds - $10,000.00
Gum surgery - $9,900.00
Diagnostic Cast - $3,050.00
Mouth Guard - $700.00
The Fight
For the past 6 months I’ve had a long and exhausting fight with my insurance companies. My medical insurance company has denied my claim and repels, even with documentation from my primary care doctor, my dentist and my prosthodontist, all claiming that this is a medical issue that will lead to serious medical repercussions (like damage to my jaw and eventually effecting my ability to speak) if left untreated.
My dental insurance company will only pay out $1500.00 a year, if they even cover this type of procedure (which they don’t). They don’t make any exceptions.
I’ve tried a few other things. I got examined at OHSU (a prestigious medical college in Portland, Oregon) to see if they could help me out, but I was told that the procedure that I needed done was too complicated for the students and that they couldn’t help me. I was also told by the instructor that dentures were also not an option due to the bone structure of my jaw.
This leaves me with few other options. I’m currently looking into some alternatives in Mexico.
Where you come in!
I need some help raising money for my mouth reconstruction. I would be extremely grateful for any amount you could give, even if it’s just a dollar.
If you can’t give anything, but share this story, I would be extremely grateful as well.
Also, if you have any ideas or advice, please email me @ [email redacted]
Thank you so much for reading!