Hey there - just wanted to say hello - The kids and I are doing okay. We are getting ready to go to our local Halloween parade today. It's always nice sometimes the kids get money prizes and even if they don't they get a huge bag of candy at the end of the parade which is great. They always come home happy. I can't wait to get home though because I will have to miss part of the Steeler game! Of course kids come first. Anyway I love my teeth and my dentist did such a great job that noone can tell they are dentures. As scared as I was to do it I am so glad now that I got it together and did something for myself. For so long my focus was my husband and kids and I ended up losing myself. Over the summer I lost a total of 57 pounds and I'm not done yet. I've learned that as much as I love my children that I have to do some things for myself and noone else. Anyway take good care and if I don't get a chance to say so have a wonderful holiday season!

Hey there lady - just thought I would pop in and say hello - it's been quite some time since I have been here - It's been almost three months since my husband and I separated and I am doing okay on my own - my kids are great and so are my teeth lol ! - I found out recently that the insurance company will not pay for a partial but they will pay for a bottom denture which isn't really the way I wanted it to go but you know sometimes you just have to be grateful for what you can have - I am going to have the bottom teeth pulled soon and they are in the process of making my lower denture - take good care hope to hear from you soon

Thank you so much !!!! It really feels wonderful and I am an OVERCOMER - I know with the impending divorce things are going to get rough at times and I have to get accustomed to being a single mom but I can do it - I have enough love and determination and faith to keep on going. My life and the lives of my children are worth it!!!!

Hey Soulight - just wanted to say hi and let you know I got my top dentures- I posted about it - It seemed like it took forever but I am so glad I did it!

Well I went to the dentist yesterday and got my top denture - needless to say it is very awkward wearing it but it looks fabulous - I have gotten so many compliments already !!!!! I'm in a place where I really need some good things to happen for me right now - A few weeks ago I fould out that my husband was having an affair for 10 months so I kicked him out - There is no chance of reconciliation and I have decided I want a divorce - everything has been really difficult for me and the kids of course but I am trying to make things as normal as possible for them and me - they come first - Having my teeth now makes me feel so much better about myself - I can't tell you all how happy I am that I stepped up and finally did something to make myself feel good again - I was afraid and it has been a slow process but I am working on it ! - We haven't decided what is going to happen with my lower teeth - the insurance co denied the dentist's first request for a partial because of the bone mass loss - so he is trying again - if it doesn't happen I will have to have all of my lower teeth pulled and have full dentures which I don't really want but if it has to happen that way I am willing to go through with it!!! Wish me luck

Well, I have been to the dentist several times since I last posted and this week is the week when my top full plate will be done!!!! Last week I went to try on my teeth that were put in wax and I must say they looked a little strange to me - strange but good - I can't wait - I am definately going to put up a pic when they are done - So the insurance company doesn't want to give me a partial on the bottom and is saying there is not enough bone mass - I may have to go through the same thing I had to with the top - I was really hoping to not have to do that but if I have to then so be it. Obviously it feels like it is all taking forever and I want it to be done but it is getting done slowly but surely. I know I am going to be so much happier and feel so much better about myself so it is all going to be worth it !!!!! I will keep you all posted!

Hey there lady! Well I went through with the first part of my work and had all of my top teeth pulled yesterday. Needless to say I kind of feel like a puffy cabbage patch doll today but it will pass I'm sure. It was not the most pleasant experience but it was what I needed to do so I am glad I did it. I go back in two weeks for more. The dentist is going to fit me for my upper denture and take out some teeth on the bottom then. I just figured I would drop you a line and let you know what is going on. Take good care - more updates soon!

Well, today I went and had all of my top teeth pulled. Needless to say it was not the most pleasant experience but my dentist made sure that I was not in any pain. He sent me home with a bunch of gauze to stuff in my mouth and a prescription for some pain medicine which I got filled immediately after I left his office. I'm feeling a little drowsy from it but I am not in any pain and that is the good thing. As hard as it was for me to do what I did today I feel really relieved that I did it. I go back in 2 weeks to get fitted for my upper denture and he is going to pull some of my bottom teeth. I guess I will have to go back again to get fitted for my partial plate but that's okay because I am really looking forward to the end result! Just so all of you know I was really scared going in there today but I knew that it had to be done so I set my mind to it and did it! I will post again in a few weeks to let you all know about my next visit!!!

Thank you Soulight. I can't even tell you how excited I am to begin the process that is going to change my life. I have been thinking about what I need to do for a long time and of course I was very afraid, but I dug deep and knew that I needed to do something for myself. My whole life revolves around my husband and children but now I am going to take care of them and me!!! Once I have my beautiful new teeth I will post a pic so everyone can see !

I personally cannot offer you any help as we are a struggling family. I just felt compelled to leave you a comment and tell you that I think it is an amazing and wonderful thing you are doing taking care of those children as your own. I have three of my own and I know how hard it can be financially and emotionally. I wish you luck and will pray for you all to be safe and happy. Good luck

Hey there - I just wanted to say hi and hope you read my new post - I am finally on my way to getting the help I need!!!! Thank you for your words of encouragement!

4/12/07 I am proud to tell all of you that I finally got up the courage to go to a local dentist today. He looked at my teeth and I had an X-ray done. I am getting all of my upper teeth pulled and some of my bottom ones pulled which means I need a full upper denture and partial lower. I just wanted to let all of you know that just going there was the hardest part for me. For me it took a lot of courage just to walk into that office. Now I feel a sense of hope and relief that I am finally going to get this taken care of. The dentist was wonderful and explained exactly what he is going to do and said he would take care of me and that he would make sure I would have the least amount of pain as possible. This of course was a great relief to me considering I have been dreading going into a  dentist's office for years now. I am hoping that by documenting my experiences maybe I can encourage anyone that needs serious dental work done to get off of their butts and do something for themselves. Every person deserves to feel good about him/her self and I am finally realizing that I do too. I know that this is going to change my life and make me feel so much better about my appearance and going out in public. My next appointment is 4/23 I will put up a new post then just to let everyone know how it is going. Good luck to anyone that is in need and god bless you all.

I just wanted to say thank you for your kindness and your referral - I am looking into several options but another one can't hurt - thanks again

I just wanted to say I know how you feel girl - I really hope you find what you need! ((hugs))

I just wanted to say thank you and actually I have been on the internet all night doing "research" and I think I may have found what I am looking for -

I just wanted to also say that the Pain management program I went to helped me a great deal both mentally and physically - it was hard work and very painful at times but well worth it - So if you have one available to you please look into it - and thanks again

Hi my name is Kandice - I am from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania - I am a mother of three children ages 5,7, and 12 - I am also married but my husband is really struggling financially. I have medical assistance - What I want to say is that I have had some difficult times in my life and honestly I didn't take very good care of myself - I have a few teeth left on top and several on the bottom - my front tooth is broken - My medical assistance will not pay for the work I need done - Ultimately I would like to have my teeth extracted and aquire dentures - I realize that you only get one chance to take care of your teeth and I have not done that - but I believe dentures would give me a second chance to be a new person - Recently I have been making some changes in my life for the better - I have Fibromyalgia which is a painful and difficult thing to deal with - I went through a course at Shadyside Pain Management Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to help me be able to deal with this illness and to take better care of myself - I wanted to improve my quality of life as well as to be able to be a better and more active mother for my children - I have dedicated myself to my children and my main focus has been on them since I had them - But at the same time I have neglected to take care of myself and I realize this - The truth is people seem to pass on at young ages in my family and I don't want it to happen to me - I want to be around to see my children grow up and do whatever it is in their lives that makes them happy - I haven't been to a dentist for years even though I have medical assistance just for the simple fact that I am embarrased and ashamed at the state my teeth are in - I rarely leave my house and this pains me because I want to do more things with my children and possibly go back to work to help support my family - If you can help me in any way I would be forever grateful  -  please contact me and thank you for taking the time to read this -  

Thank you so much for your kindness - I appreciate it so much - and I will look into all of the possibilities