Kendall's Dental Surgery

Kendall was a gift from God and has been a blessing to many people throughout his life. He looks beyond what everyone else sees and is always ready to give a complement to you just when you need it. Two days a week he volunteers at the local women and children’s hospital sterilizing toys in the pediatric unit. Kendall is 22 years old and has a variant form of a rare chromosome disorder called Klinefelter syndrome. Dental problems are one of the difficulties of this syndrome.

Kendall has spent the last five years in braces in an attempt to save his teeth and correct his bite.  But despite all that has been done his teeth along with his jaw continue to deteriorate. After more than six months of consultations with half a dozen cooperating dental surgeons, orthodontists, dentists, a periodontist, and a prosthodontist a plan has been put together and not a minute too soon. Kendall has now lost the first of five loose teeth. Due to his genetic makeup and bone loss in his jaw the long-term solution is to perform a procedure called All-on-four dental implants.

The first of three procedures will require Kendall to have his upper jawbone cut and moved forward. After at least six months of healing the second procedure will take place. This procedure will take approximately eight hours and will require two teams of surgeons to remove all of Kendall’s teeth and insert the implant anchors, which is what the temporary prosthetic teeth will be attached to. The two teams rotate their separate procedures on the upper and lower jaws until complete. After the gums have completely healed from the second surgery the permanent dental implants will be attached at the third procedure.

This will offer a long-term, if not lifetime, solution to Kendall’s dental problems. The original estimate of the total procedure would have been in excess of $60,000 but with the help of our lead dentist she has been able to reduce our cost to $35,000. Now that there is a plan, we have to pay for the procedures beforehand.

The first surgery will be covered by medical insurance but the second and third procedures will be out of pocket. Any help we receive in covering these costs would be a true blessing. My wife and I are trying to prepare for Kendall’s future to live a healthy and productive life beyond our own. These procedures will ensure that Kendall’s teeth will last him throughout his life.