I’m no stranger to the dentist’s chair. No stranger to routine root canals (I think I’ve had 6) and Amoxycillin prescriptions and having my dental insurance maxed out by March each year.
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – hypermobility type. It’s ruining my fragile teeth.
In short, EDS is a disorder (of multiple types) of collagen production that damages or alters the functioning of every single system and organ in the body. Full and partial joint dislocations, joint instability, gastrointestinal complications, “velvety” easily bruised and scratched skin,
It’s rare for H-EDS to involve the teeth to this extent. My crowns are prone to cracking, breaking apart when the cracks spread deep enough, and falling out one piece at a time. The remaining pieces, before falling out too, are sharp and fang-like. They cut my tongue and my cheeks. It also leaves the roots behind in the jaw. I currently have two of those. Deep grooves trap food matter and bacteria, which speeds up decay. My wisdom teeth came in early (age 13or so) and later (24) started growing backwards. I had them removed. I’ve had one $3,000 titanium implant loosen and fall out due to poor healing and blood clotting caused by EDS. My dentists have determined that my enamel is too thin, the grooves in the teeth are too deep, I’m losing jaw bone, and I have active periodontal disease. The weird part is… barely any of this hurts.
My pain tolerance is so high that it’s a problem: it takes a massive amount of persistent pain for me to realize something hurts. Likely an ADHD thing. By the time I notice a toothache, for example, it’s too late and I need a root canal or extraction plus antibiotics to kill the infection.
(Side note: My psychiatrist informed me that among the general population, about 9% of males and 5% of females are estimated to have ADHD. But a woman with EDS – like myself – is 5.5 times more likely to have it.)
I do everything right. I brush. I floss. I don’t eat excessive sugar or acidic foods. I don’t smoke. I don’t use illegal drugs. I drink but I don’t go overboard. I don’t grind my teeth. I don’t chew ice anymore. I don’t like hard candy. I do everything that I’m supposed to and yet I am still losing my teeth.
I don’t just need dentures. I WANT them. I want to be free of this situation. No, I don’t fear being judged for having them at only 26. I am beyond fed up with missing nearly half my teeth, having the teeth left be subjected to extra wear and tear, worrying that the ache in my temples is not dehydration but bone resorption reaching up to my skull, being limited in what foods I can eat (and I’m ALREADY losing weight* on my newly prescribed Adderall), knowing it’s a matter of time before I lose more teeth, and knowing I cannot tell my family.
My lifelong dental problems have been a drain on my parents’ finances since the very first extraction around 7 or 8. They won’t admit it, but it’s obvious. I’m ashamed of myself for it and I’m essentially lying by not revealing that I need this much dental work.
(*Spent much of my life chronically underweight. Felt constantly cranky, exhausted, and sick. My weight is healthy now and I don’t want that to change.)
Between having to work (a struggle once it becomes too difficult to hide my severe ADHD, physical disability, and asocial nature at each new job), utility bills, previous dental bills, rent, student loans, and life emergencies, there is zero hope that I’ll be able to afford high enough quality dentures. Not even with insurance.
Dentures that will last and fit my small face & jaw would cost me over $5,000 per arch.
Additional costs associated with dentures:
– Possible fees for consultation process
– Anesthesia
– Antibiotics
– Follow-up appointments
– Implants, if getting implant-supported
– Bone grafting in lower and maybe upper jaw
I’m trying everything I can to earn the money myself – “doing my best”, as they say – but my best isn’t enough. I’ve tried selling furry art, hoping to find one of those rare wealthy furries who shower the community with donations and purchases. I’ve tried selling my creative writing. I’ve tried selling writing prompts on Gumroad and Etsy. I’ve tried landing a full time job with better dental insurance, but the market is hopeless even for job seekers who are not disabled. I’ve been encouraged as a young woman to “just do OF/[insert similar platform]”, but I don’t want to ruin what’s left of my mental health by selling intimacy to strangers.
I can show you images of my teeth. I can show medical records with my personal info censored. I can record myself performing the Beighton test, an assessment for EDS involving bending and moving different joints. A score of 4 or more out of 9 is required to diagnose EDS. My score is a 9.
I cannot stop my condition from taking my teeth, but with your support, I can reclaim my health, fix my smile, and not put myself into inescapable debt while attempting to do so. I’d be happy to help you with proofreading or editing, give writing advice, help with research for your projects, etc. in return.
Please help. Thank you so much for reading.
This is my paypal.me link.
Venmo: @Casey-Sheaves