Donate to Restore Matthew's Smile and Well-Being

Dear Friends and Family,

I am reaching out for help with a medical event that has been both challenging and transformative. Earlier in the year I had noticed that one of my top teeth has started to decay again after previously performing a filling a few years back to preserve the tooth for the time I could and unfortunately another tooth has also started to decay as well. After visiting my doctor he stated it would be wise to go the implant route by pulling the remaining teeth I have and making dentures along with them to save myself paying money on my teeth to only last x amount of time and to also benefit my dental health long term. Unfortunately the cost for this "All on 4" dental implants at the centers I visited was from a cost of $25-$40k for the 4 implants and the upper and lower arch of dentures which would help solidify my jawbone and any more unnecessary temporary future dental work that I would need. And which that is a substantial amount of money and something that I or a family don't have in a savings account, and of course this isn't covered by my dental insurance because they view this as a cosmetic procedure, even disregarding that I was born with a skin disease that effects my teeth and other areas of my body which you can imagine how I felt being judged by other kids because of the way I looked, technology wasn't much a thing in the 90s and I didn't really learn of my condition until I was a teenager and learning about why I had always had to visit periodontics and clinics often for my teeth and why I my body doesn't perspire leaving me to have to stay in a cool environment being in shade, or having to avoid overexposure to the sun, playing sports had to take frequent breaks, staying inside my room on those hot humid 90 degrees days during the summer in the air conditioner playing video games, all made me really feel ashamed of myself and I never accepted the fact that I was different i just wanted to feel normal like every other kid in class feel aceepted. The skin disease I was born with is ectodermal dysplasia that resulted in me to only having being born with 9 of my natural teeth I have always needed to visit periodontics to have sets of dentures made throughout my life (as a child, teenager, and adult) to have some sort of dental work done, and since I already had to pull 2 of my teeth due to bad cavities hasn't helped slowed down the shrinkage of my jawbone, for those who don't know over the years your jaw bone deteriorates over time with the less amount of teeth you have. Which thankfully for my case after doing CT scans the doctors have revealed that I do still have enough jaw bone density to support this dental work and that it just would be wise to not hold this off for a few years or it could be too late. This whole situation has brought me challenging times and really took my mental health over the limit stressing out where would I come out with the money to cover the cost for this procedure, for starters for those who know me know my passion was always for cars and I had my Mazda Miata which was my prize possession that was my icon, my get away from the world staple which heartbreakingly I had to sell it to start the savings account, I've been working multiple consistent overtime per week at work to contribute into the savings account for this procedure. Which is the reasoning I am reaching out with a GoFundMe campaign to help raise $15,000 for most of the necessary cost for the dental implants. And for everyone who knows me I'm not a guy to openly ask for help I feel a bother to people by coming up with my problems but this is a heavy weight on my shoulders. Your support, be it financial contributions, sharing this campaign, or offering words of encouragement, means the world to me.

**How Your Support Helps:**

- Dental Implants: Funds raised will cover the cost of dental implants, ensuring a lasting solution to rebuild my smile.

- Continued Well-Being: Your support contributes to my overall health, relieving me from the physical and emotional toll of prolonged dental issues.

- Restored Self-Confidence: As a truck driver, my professional appearance means a lot to me, so I constantly feel like I am hiding my mouth from customers to be taken seriously. Even my dating life I have very little confidence in myself to step out there.

I understand that we all are dealing with financial hardships; and any support you can provide is deeply appreciated. Thank you for being a part of my journey towards rebuilding my smile.

Sincerely,

Matthew