First off, good on you, Rawknee.

Second, I know A LOT of people who go to Mexico for their dental needs, as it's the same doctors here in the states (often) who don't have the same red tape down there. Perfectly clean, certified, everything. And yes, they save many thousands. some insurances even cover it.

^^^

I did not know that about Mexico, Guy - looks like I was talking out my azz on that one!

For those who are interested, the GFM has collected $2200 so far (the bulk of which, by far, has been from Pelican guys) - am so grateful for the help!

Combined GFM and insurance monies are close to $4K - that definitely takes some of the sting out of the huge costs for Toni's teeth project.

Can some of the work (or billing for it) be done after the first of the year to get a fresh $1,500 from her insurance for 2022?

Hump day bump for Ronnie's friend Toni.
Any updates Raw?

Hoping the tenth goes well for her!

That is a great idea - not going to delay the work, however, and no way the surgeon would be game for delaying billing . . . the dentist might have been but I've already paid most of his costs. Wish I would have thought of that myself, sooner! :)

Thanks for the hump :eek:, I mean bump, Nick! Nothing new to report other than all dates are set, as well as transportation, meds needed, etc. Everything is looking good so far.

Thanks a lot for the fundraiser bump, Gordner - it really helps!


The fund, 90% of which is Pelican peeps doing, is up to $2250.00 - awesome!

Another hundo dropped in there from my ol' parents, so sitting at $2350.00 currently (most of that from Pelican guys) - awesome! This Friday is the big cutting day - the cuttee is nervous but also excited for the future after all of this is done (will be complete at some point in December, barring any problems). Thanks again to all!

Just as a point of interest, my dad last year had extensive dentistry done in Puerto Vallarta, with excellent results at about 10% of the cost. I do think it is not uncommon.

Cutting is underway! All of your GFM donations have been put to use! So awesome!

On the 2022 insurance, maybe some follow up stuff can be put off till then.

Keep us posted! If I'm not mistaken, there needs to be a lot more collected so it's not mostly you, right?

^^^

Will keep posted and will also ask primary dentist about follow-up dates.

It would be great to collect more to help offset the extreme costs of this (will be just under $28K when it is all said and done) - I am paying half of the cost and another friend is paying half, so is a big financial hit for me, but something that just had to be done since I was able to make it happen (thankfully). The GFM really helps and the generosity, especially from guys here, has been downright inspiring.

Today's procedure was a complete success! I am beyond impressed by the surgeon's skill, efficiency and also his welcoming personality (which means a lot to those he is cutting on). The temporary teeth literally blew me away - I shiit you not, there is no way that anyone could tell they are not real . . . literally amazing workmanship. The shape of her mouth and lower jaw was instantly transformed way beyond what I had a mental image of.

Lots of pain and bleeding the the next few days, and very strict procedures for what she can and cannot do in the next 24 hours, with regard to the temp teeth.

She had no issue with the IV sedation, so that was good. Toni was lucid and talking (as much as possible with a bunch of gauze in her mouth, which has to be changed out very frequently over the next two days), and was even able to look in a mirror at the work which was done (very happy with it, other than of course about the pain, bleeding and swelling).

Appointment with primary dentist this Monday, and follow up with surgeon in two weeks to make sure that everything is okay with the implanted posts . . . many other appointments with dentist and surgeon between now and mid-December when all this is done.

Hope she has a speedy recovery!

Thanks for the update Rawk!

I've always been proud to be a Pelicanhead.

No doubt! Beyond being a site for car enthusiasts, it's a site with a lot of caring people who are willing to offer a helping hand to people in need.

Pelicans ROCK

They sure do!

BTW - what I've done with the GFM money is to add that to the small insurance amount and then take the combined total off the top of the overall cost, that way Toni is able to feel like that is her part of the deal; in other words, it's not going in my pocket or anything (I hope that makes sense). :)

Everything still good, per the other dude (a mutual friend that lives in the same apartment complex in Dallas that Toni does, and is staying with her for the next few days to help out . . . I live about 65 miles away and all of the work is being done out here, simply because I was familiar with the primary dentist, suggested Toni meet with him initially, and she was then all-in despite the long commutes from home). A lot of pain and swelling still, of course (she has pain meds and is also using cold compresses as recommended), but the bleeding has pretty much stopped so she's much more comfortable not having gauz stuffed in her new grill full time. :D

Thanks again for all the help!

Here is a little update for those who are following this project . . .

A really good day today - bleeding has ceased, so no more gauze-in-mouth needed, and she is doing the best she can to reduce facial swelling with reusable cold packs (lots of them to rotate in and out of the freezer) . . . some bruising developing around her eyes but not an alarming amount. She's mainly sleeping, but is upright enough to drink Ensures and water (has not even tried super soft foods yet - maybe tomorrow). Overall, everything is going well.

BTW - yesterday the surgeon's nurse wanted me to look at the fresh work before leaving, and fuukin gnarly comes to mind (a gore fest of sutures, blood and hardware . . . people who do that sort of work have supersized ones swangin!). Of course I said, "Damn, that looks awesome" (no mention of gore fest for Toni's ears to hear :D).

Thanks for the update Raunch... Well done!

Another hondo showing up about now.

Thanks for showing what people can do for each other when there's a need, earning a set of wings if you keep that up...

Go Toni!

^^^
Yep! Tomorrow's appointment will be a challenge, as the last thing she will want to do is leave home, much less have her mouth messed with by the dentist, but I'm certain it will happen.

Thanks, Aussie Orange! :D

Wow Skip, a big ol' forum butt pinch for you! :D Thanks a lot!

$2550.00 in the GFM as of today, 90% of which is from Pelican guys - amazing!

Here is a little update from the first post-op appointment with the primary dentist (a very small, independent place in Ft. Worth) - Toni's facial swelling is way down, and bruising is very faint . . . lots of pain still, but it hadn't even been thee full days since the cutting, so not unexpected. The small staff that works there (all funny, cheerful and good looking women, except for the dentist - that dude is smart! :D) went nuts over Toni's progress and new look, so that was a big hit, of course. No problems detected other than the fit of the lower temporary teeth, which was adjusted then and there (Toni said much less discomfort immediately after adjustment).

Follow up with the surgeon is not until the 29th of this month, barring any problems that might come up (troubling pain, infection, etc.) and same day for next scheduled dentist appointment. Were told at the dentist's, however, to come in however many times necessary for examination and adjustments if pain and discomfort are a problem (with no additional costs) - they were adamant about not toughing it out or gum damage can result.

Her 17 going on 13 year old son was along (big bisch got to skip school! :D) and he is dumbfounded by the realism of the temp teeth - way different than what he pictured in his mind, I guess. He's reportedly been doing a great job as a helper at home, so that is awesome.

We went to a nearby pancake place to eat after the appointment ; Toni has not yet tried any kind of real food since Friday - order scrambled eggs thinking that would be okay, and could not even manage one bite without almost crying. I made a crack about how she "literally bit off more than she could chew" and that made her laugh so all good again, with the thought of trying something again tomorrow.

Funny incident at the pancake place - when our waitress came to the table, Toni almost immediately smiled big and pointed at her mouth, waitress said "what?", and T announced that she has brand new teeth, the waitress then said, "ohhhhh those must be the really expensive kind", and her other friend and I immediately responded in unison, "Yes!", and that cracked Toni up! :D

The project is really going well so far, and the progress/results have exceeded my expectations - money well spent!

Big pain today; Toni called the primary dentist and the assistant there that is working with her talked her through it (reviewed what to do, made additional suggestions), and much better following the call. An appointment was made for next Tuesday for exam and adjustments to the temporary teeth (Toni wanted it earlier but the assistant said should wait a little longer until swelling subsides more . . . adjustments just made this past Monday). I think she will be able to manage the pain by doing as the assistant says, and calling when necessary. Regardless, this is going to be a rough and busy coming few weeks.

On a good note, she ate first "solid" food today - mashed potatoes, and was pumped about that.

Sounds like progress is being made! Hope the pain level is manageable without any of the big stuff.

Bump for Toni ... let her know some strange birds are smiling back at her :)!

Thanks for the updates Ron... nicely done!

Speaking of bumps, a hundo each from two more people this morning (do not recognize the names of either), so amount is now $2850.00! Unreal generosity!

Correction, I do recognize one of the names from this morning - a certain wannabe PARF Band cowbell player that has hit the GFM twice now! Thanks bro! :)

An info bump to those who have followed, and participated in, this project.

Tomorrow is the day that the implanted posts get fitted with the "caps" that serve as anchor points for the new teeth (the rows of teeth apparently then snap securely to the implants), so if all goes well, this will be the final step that involves sedation and cutting.

This will be a twofer day - first to the cutter and then to the primary dentist that is fitting the new teeth. This also means that the money side of it is almost complete as well (a big relief, of course :D).

Toni has been pumped with having the temporary teeth and extremely excited about the real deal ones she's getting tomorrow (also glad to be looking at this being the final cutting session).

Again, thanks to all of you here that helped to make this happen!

say what they want..:eek:

your a good Mensch..:D

Merry Christmas ...

Rika

^^^

Ha ha - I actually had to look up "mensch" as I had never seen or heard that word before. :D


Well, there was a setback today when the surgeon discovered that one of the implanted posts failed (did not integrate with the bone due to infection - the x-ray pics of that were fascinating); that was a no-charge do-over right then and there, but meant that only the upper posts could be exposed and have their caps fitted to them . . . the bottom two can't be done until early in February, following sufficient heal time for the do-over. That meant that only the upper, snap-in teeth were fitted by the primary dentist (that process took about two hours - way longer than I anticipated . . . all in, it was a 4 hour day between the two appointments).

Obviously that was a letdown for Toni, but as noted by her, at least only one of the four failed.

Anyway, the toofs project continues . . .

BTW - I know I mentioned this before, but it is downright amazing how real the fakers look - no exaggeration, there is no hint that they are not natural teeth in her mouth, unless the observer was in that line of work (I'm sure they can spot such things at a glance) - super impressive workmanship.

You're a classy guy Raunch... No Homo, just sayin ;)

Thanks for the hetero butt pinch, Aussie Orange! :D

You're welcome... I think :confused:

An awesome day today - the implant do-over worked, about two hours was spent fitting the bottom teeth and adjusting the tops, and Toni is feeling very happy/encouraged with the major bump in comfort. There will likely be some additional adjustments needed in the coming weeks, and future maintenance work, but overall this is definitely the home stretch.

Thanks again for everyone's help with this - it means a lot!

Do-over?

See post #72, Steve (one of the first implants failed back in early December). All good now, however!

Ronnie .... ya done good man! Take a bow and carry on :)....

Ron- I was listening to a podcast about altruism and I realized you may have been helping Toni to make yourself feel good.

They mentioned this episode of Friends where Phoebe tries to do a good deed without feeling good about it, so... enjoy.

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