I want to smile again....
I am a 47 year old single mom with older children and one 11 yr. old son still at home. I was 14 when my dad kicked me out of my home and have been working ever since till now. It was not easy but I made my way, eventually got married had kids, then divorced. I raised my kids as a single mom working very hard eventually rising to a good management position. Through the years my teeth have been getting worse,even so I had dental coverage I really couldn't afford my part of the cost as other bills like rent, food, my kids where a higher priority. Still I could smile, my situation was a lot better than others and my teeth were ok looking.
Like many Christmas is my favorite time of the year and always brought a smile to my face but Christmas 2005 was the beginning of me loosing my smile for good. My youngest son was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 for Christmas and that was only the beginning. My teeth were beginning to get really bad, already missing a few, more were breaking or beginning to rot. With my child's new condition there was even less money, and just like the absence of child support there was no help coming form my ex in dealing with this either. Bad changed to worse 4 months latter as my older son, 20 was admitted to the ICU in critical condition eventually being diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 also. My work was less than understanding about my children's illness and even so I had been held up as an exemplary employee my work enviroment became very hostile. On the verge of mental exhaustion and physical collapse my doctor held me out of work and listed it as a workmans comp situation. While out on sick lease I was diagnosed with a tumor on my ovary and was operated on. I was wrongfully terminated and won my unemployment case, but the workman's comp case was set aside for lack of evidence and I don't have the funds or resources to hire/pay the attorney I need. Now out of work with even less money no insurance or benefits, left with a few bottom teeth and 1 and 3/4 of my two front teeth so that I am afraid to smile and I feel so insecure all the time that it is very difficult to get a new job. On top of all that I have now been diagnosed with Diabetes myself. I want to work and support my family and self, but it's extremely difficult and depressing with the obstacles I face. I have managed to take care of all the medical situations but my teeth, which are also holding me back from getting a job and allowing me to provide for my son and self. I have been told by dentists I need to have my remaining teeth pulled and get dentures. The rotting teeth and gunk in my mouth may even be the cause or contributing to my medical problems. If I could afford a slightly higher level of dental work, they said they might be able to save two of my bottom eye teeth and give me implants. Unfortunately I know that implants are beyond my wildest dreams. Now I just want to get these rotten teeth out of my mouth and get dentures, but that too is beyond my financial ability. I want to be able to smile at an interview and have people judge me on my skills and abilites, not my bad teeth. I want to be able to work again and take care of my boy. I want to give my son all he deserves and be able to smile back at him. He thinks I'm mad or sad all the time since I never smile.
I need help finding a way to pay for the dental work I need, and to be able to SMILE again!
UPDATE: I found a place that will pull my remaining teeth for $20.00 a tooth, (I still have a lot of broken teeth and roots besides the few full teeth left), but still cannot afford the dentures. So I'm still looking for help, resources, guideance, or any contribution of any kind which will all be greatly appreciated!
