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We could do another bridge, we could do this, we could attach this to that. We could just do one implant and then attach the teeth to it. Like, she gave me more than one option and I chose to do the one that’s gonna last the longest for me because I have been through this since I was eight years old and I got tired of going back and doing implants. I mean, not doing implants, doing bridges and I got tired of it. I just wanted something more permanent.

And, like, she would go down the list and tell me about each one and how long the process is gonna be. I felt comfortable making a choice. I mean, I didn’t obviously make a choice that day. I went home and talked to my spouse and, you know, then we made a choice. I think I had a little bit of tears because it was kind of like bittersweet. That it was like, “Okay, you’re done. Like, you don’t have to do this anymore.” You know?

So I don’t need another bridge. I don’t need anything else. I’m good. I got these implants and I’m comfortable. And she told me these implants are amazing. Like, I can bite into anything I want now and I don’t have to worry about cracking or anything. So I felt pretty darn good. Very thankful, very thankful. I don’t have to worry anymore. You know, I had times where I had a flipper in my mouth and I would have to be worrisome that that would fall out and how embarrassing that would be, but I don’t have to worry about anything anymore. They’re all my teeth. Well, they’re my teeth in my mouth.

When I was about 8 years old, I had tumors in the top roof of my mouth, and they were right there in the front two teeth. So the surgeon… At that time, I mean, I was younger, I can only tell you what I’ve been told by my parents because I don’t really remember it. But they had to remove the tumor, and when they did they damaged the nerves and the bones.
So I never could have teeth that would grow in those spaces. Numerous dentists have given me bridges, and they would attach them to these two teeth. Well, then the bridge would end up failing. Usually, it’s, like,10 years I think the lifespan is. And then they’d have to grind down another tooth and reattach it to another. And it was, like, getting so bothersome I guess because I had good teeth, and then they were taking those good teeth and reattaching this bridge to that.

And I just couldn’t do it anymore. And it was during COVID I believe that I started this process and I came here… Well, I went to numerous dentists prior to this. And then when I came here she said, “I can do this. I can do it all. If you’re willing to do it it’s going to be a long process.” I think it took about nine months because you have to wait for the bones to grow and put the implant up inside.

And we did all that, and then… But luckily it was COVID time. I got to wear a mask and nobody got to see me without teeth, which was awesome. Then she fixed that problem and did the implants, and I didn’t have to lose any more teeth which was the biggest thing to me. So I felt pretty good about where I was and who was taking care of me at that point.

Of course, I had all kinds of X-rays and everything. You know, she mapped out, you know, the whole thing. I had to have some things removed. I had bone grafts. And so that process took time. And I wasn’t sure about it because I don’t, you know, know…I didn’t know anything about that process. So I never even had any idea about what it was going to be and how involved it was going to be.

But so first it was removal of some things that were going on and prep work, and then bone grafts. And then from there, lots of different measurements were taken and lab things were created in labs. And it took time. I had temporary teeth. But luckily that was during COVID so the mask worked for me because I had most of my dental work done during COVID, almost all of it.

And so the mask situation for me was a winner because I was hiding a lot more behind my mask than most people were with all that because it takes time, you know, waiting for the teeth to come back from the lab and everything. It takes time. And I guess it was a busy time. I wasn’t the only one getting dental work during COVID, I guess, because it did take some time. But it was worth the wait, that’s for sure.

I cried when I got in the car. I was staring in the mirror crying. It makes me want to cry today when I think about it because it was so mind-boggling to me to see this in this face because I was so used to seeing it differently, you know. It was something that I always wanted. And I always saw those after pictures and didn’t think that would ever be me. And when I saw this going on, oh, my gosh, it was crazy.

I was excited just to see the temporary teeth on, you know, because that was already a big improvement but when I got these, oh, my gosh, it was an incredible change and very emotional for me, you know. It really was. It still gives me a lot of emotion. Yeah, because when you’re used to being embarrassed for a lot of years. Like, that is something that’s priceless to get back, to not be embarrassed when you’re opening your mouth, you know. You know, it’s a big difference.

I had all kinds of situations going on with my smile. I went to the dentist, but not enough when I was growing up. So I had all kinds of different problems going on. I had infections in my mouth that were chronic that I hadn’t been addressing that I needed to. I had so many different situations that were going on. I had failed dental work from previous dentists.
I had lost a couple of teeth molars. I had discoloration. I had a gap that was actually filed into my mouth by another dentist in a tooth that didn’t used to have one. Strange things that, you know, I had been going to a lot of different dentists over the years. And I think I’ve realized that it really is an art. And once you’re going, I really noticed that it really is an art.

And so when you’re seeing different people and they’re doing different kinds of work, it doesn’t always match up, you know. And so that’s…I had that when I walked in here. And Dr. Ra came up with a plan, and it was a really good plan. Yeah, so it corrected everything for, me and it was time-consuming to do that. But it just changed the way I did everything in my day, really. I was used to hiding my teeth, and I would always smile with my mouth closed.

And I often, you know, would have my hand in front of my mouth. There was, like, all sorts of tactics that I used to hide before. And I don’t have to do that anymore. I have to remind myself actually to smile openly, still, because it was such a long time of not doing that. So I’ve told her before that it was life-changing, but it really is life-changing when you’re having to do those kinds of things every single day in every interaction that you have. Even in my own house, it didn’t matter because you’re still vulnerable when it’s ugly. And it was, it was ugly.

My kids couldn’t believe it. My kids told me…my kids…and they’re adults. But they were so shocked that I was smiling and they could see my teeth because they weren’t used to that. They were not used to that. They were always used to me smiling like that. And I didn’t really talk with my mouth open very much either for reasons of hiding.

And so my kids were, like…they would interrupt me when I was talking, like, “Mom, Mom, I just have to tell you this. I can’t believe how good your teeth…” Like, they would interrupt me, and I would be so happy when they did. Especially my kids, they…and my friends, too, but of course, my kids, it was huge for me to hear and see their reactions. Yeah, they still talk about it.

People comment about my teeth so many places. Like, I can’t even tell you, I can be anywhere, Costco, Walmart, anywhere, the salon, people will say things, like, “Oh, your teeth are beautiful.” Constantly people bring it up, strangers, and people I don’t know. And I’m, like, “I don’t even wanna say, you should have seen it before.” But that’s what goes in my mind.

That’s what I think to myself, “Oh, my gosh, what a difference.” But to have somebody stop you and comment on it and ask me, “Who is your dentist?” Plenty of people have asked me and I always tell them all about her. Always, and everybody always says the same thing, “How much does it cost?”

I’m always, like, “Don’t ask that question, just go see her.” Because that’s what you wanna do, you wanna go see her. Because it is expensive. It’s expensive, it just is. But life is expensive. Some things you just pay for. And this was well worth it, that’s for sure. But I have to tell you, so many strangers stop me and comment about it, especially in stores. It’s a good feeling.