I Have No Teeth and I Must Eat

Hello, everyone. \o/

My name is Mark; I'm 41, and two years ago, I lost all my teeth. I am raising funds to replace my teeth.

In September 2022, after a persistent antibiotic-resistent infection coupled with good old-fashioned TMJ seizing and grinding of teeth, it was decided—much to my relief, at the time—that all my teeth should be removed; and, after that, my dentist would make a recommendation after I'd healed about what we should pursue next.

Ultimately, my primary dentist, as well as two others, have all suggested that based on my age (41), I'm a prime candidate for permanent dentures. This would involve drilling posts into my jaw and maxilla onto which brackets would be placed, and on that would be crowns for each of my teeth. These are designed not to be taken out, and are only adjustable by a dentist; but the trade-off is that my maxilla and jaw would be strengthened by the dentures being firmly anchored into place. I still have many, many years of chewing in me, and regular dentures (and, to a lesser but still very expensive extent, snap-in dentures) are going to ultimately result in the wearing-down of my oral bones, culminating in eventually needing a prosthetic jaw.

Because, for whatever reason in the United States, dentistry (and vision) are not "medical" disciplines for the purposes of insurance, I have to come up with, per my initial estimate, $14,726 of my own (dental insurance covering another $3,000 on top of that).

It has been two years and it is driving me insane. My mental and physical health are deteriorating. I can't describe to you appreciably what it is like unless you have lived it yourself. I feel like I can still feel them; I even feel like I'm still clenching them in my sleep. For two years, I've been gumming at foods if I'm stubborn, which is detrimental to my digestion; but usually, I'm eating just soft foods, which involves a lot of processed stuff and is wildly detrimental to my health.

Whatever little bit or lotta bit you, your friends, and/or your family or your agency or organization can possibly help, it will be appreciated. I clearly cannot promise anything from this. All I can promise is to show you my situation and how your collective donations have transformed my life.