It is difficult for me to ask people for help, especially for something as personal as my teeth. But I have reached a point where I cannot fix this on my own.

For years, I have watched my teeth gradually deteriorate. Grinding and clenching, acid erosion from GERD, and problems with my enamel have taken a serious toll. What started as individual dental problems eventually became cracks, fractures, cavities, deep decay, abscessed teeth, severe wear, and changes to my bite.

There is something uniquely difficult about watching a part of yourself slowly fall apart and knowing that other people can see it.

Dental problems affect so much more than your teeth. They affect the way you eat, the way you speak, the way you smile for a picture, and how comfortable you feel when someone is standing close to you. You become aware of things that other people probably never have to think about.

I have spent too much time worrying about which tooth will hurt next, what might break, whether I can comfortably chew something, or whether someone is noticing my teeth when I talk or smile.

Eventually, there was no longer a simple fix.

I now need a full-mouth reconstruction—essentially rebuilding my upper and lower teeth so that they can function together properly again. My treatment includes crowns and bridges, implants for teeth that cannot be saved, crown lengthening, correction of my bite, and a protective night guard to help prevent all of this work from being damaged by continued clenching and grinding.

It is an enormous process.

I have already started treatment, and for the first time in a long time I can begin to imagine reaching the other side of this. Even having temporary restorations has given me a glimpse of what it could feel like to stop constantly thinking about my teeth.

This is not about chasing a perfect or cosmetic smile.

I want to be able to eat without fear of another tooth breaking. I want my bite to function normally. I want to reduce the strain and pain in my jaw. I want to protect the teeth and dental work I will have left for the future.

And I want to smile without immediately wondering what someone else sees.

That last part is harder for me to admit than I expected.

The financial cost of rebuilding an entire mouth is substantial, and the treatment takes place over many appointments and stages. I am doing everything I can to complete it, but I could genuinely use help carrying the financial burden.

If you are able to donate, whether it is $5, $20, or something more, I would be incredibly grateful. Every contribution helps me get closer to completing this reconstruction and finally putting years of dental problems behind me.

And if you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser can help just as much by allowing it to reach someone who may be able to.

Thank you for reading something that is not particularly easy for me to share. Asking for help makes me uncomfortable, but living with these problems has taught me that sometimes you have to be willing to let other people help you get to the other side.

I am looking forward to the day when my teeth are no longer something I have to organize my life around—and when smiling can just be smiling again.