Hello, my name is Cătălin, I'm 30 years old, and I'm from Romania. I'm asking for your help with a problem I've had since childhood, which has started to affect me more and more as the years go by. It’s about a dental problem, and after several check-ups, it was concluded that it’s a hereditary disease, periodontosis, which my father also has. Although I've strictly followed oral hygiene since I was young, I noticed that my teeth and molars began to decay from the root. The cavities advanced to the point where, while eating, pieces of my teeth or molars would break off, even from something as soft as bread. When a molar broke or a tooth became decayed, I would go to the dentist, where they would fill the cavity and send me home. However, over time, I noticed that my entire dentition started to deteriorate from the root, and occasionally, I would find that a molar or tooth would break off at the base of the gum. Regardless of what I ate, I avoided hard foods and was very careful with my diet, knowing that my teeth were very fragile.

Three years ago, four of my upper teeth broke, leaving me with only one. I improvised a plastic mouldable denture (found on Amazon) with which I can still speak, although not very clearly, and I can still smile, albeit with some embarrassment, being the target of jokes from people who don’t understand that anyone can end up in such a situation. In my lower jaw, I have five teeth and only one molar left, which barely helps me to eat. The rest of my teeth are destroyed, with the teeth and molars broken at the base. Last year, in a moment of vulnerability, I inquired with several clinics about the cost of restoring my teeth, both in Romania and in Turkey, where I heard it is cheaper and faster. The cheapest option I received was from a clinic in Turkey, based on a 3D scan of my teeth. In total, the cost would be £13,000, including 12 implants, 2 bone grafts, and the temporary denture, with the permanent denture to be fitted later. They informed me that I need 6 implants on the upper jaw and 6 on the lower jaw because, due to the disease I suffer from, fewer than 6 implants per arch wouldn’t provide enough strength, as the bone is quite weak.

I work full-time as a machine operator in Romania, but due to fines I received in my youth, the state deducts 50% of my salary each month to cover those debts. I tried to get a bank loan, but with my current salary, I was unable to secure financing. In the past, I worked in England as a line supervisor in a food warehouse, and I did volunteer work in my free time. I would like to return there to continue working and to return to the life I had before I had to come back to Romania due to family problems. But it’s been three years since I returned, and my mental state has worsened, largely because I can no longer be a normal person. I can’t eat in public, as my denture is only cosmetic. When I eat, I have to remove it; otherwise, I risk breaking the last tooth that holds the plastic denture. At work, I can’t eat; I sometimes eat in the morning before I leave, and only again in the evening when I get home because I'm too embarrassed to take my denture out in front of my colleagues. This has started to cause stomach problems for me. Over time, the denture has yellowed from coffee, but I’m afraid to make a new one because the material is quite hard initially, and I risk breaking the last tooth it is fixed into while talking.

In my free time, I can’t go out to eat with friends because I can’t eat in public. When relatives have a barbecue or celebrate an event, I only participate as a spectator. No matter how hungry I am, especially with the smell of food around, I have to politely decline, saying I’m not hungry. I can’t tell everyone about my problem, and I would feel extremely embarrassed to do so. My social life is in ruins; I can only smile with my mouth closed because people notice your smile. I’m very ashamed. I can’t speak in public because if I speak a little louder, the denture, being fixed in only one tooth, slips. This happened when I laughed at a joke, and I became very withdrawn. Everyone around me saw my denture slip, then they noticed that I actually have no teeth. Because of this, I’ve avoided going out with friends, regardless of the situation. I no longer have friends or acquaintances. My weekly routine is just work and home. I don’t know what to do with my life; I'm already of an age, and for a problem that isn’t my fault, I’m stuck. However, I have high hopes and future plans. For me, the COVID-19 pandemic was very helpful because I was required to wear a mask everywhere; I could talk and smile without anyone seeing my problem. But the pandemic is over, and I’ve had to restart the fight, with the same anxiety and disappointment that no matter what I do, I can’t overcome this obstacle. All I want is to resolve my dental problem and get my life back. For me, this is an obstacle I cannot overcome. It’s too expensive for what I can afford. So far, I’ve managed to save £1200. I live in rented accommodation, which costs me £280 a month, utilities are £70, and my monthly salary, after the state deducts the money for fines, is about £450 in cash.

Restoring my teeth is my only dream, that’s why I’ve stopped buying clothes or other things I might need, and after work and on weekends, I do extra work to save money to fulfil this dream. I want to rebuild my life and have greater aspirations for myself, eliminating my anxiety and lack of self-confidence. While my childhood friends have families, I still dream of what it would be like to have at least one close person. But today, appearance matters, and a smile is the first thing someone notices when they want to get to know you. I hope that one day I can pass this test too.

In addition to these things, what really destroys my mental state is the pain I endure every time I eat, as I’m essentially chewing with my gums and molar roots. As a result, I often wake up with inflamed and swollen gums, making it impossible for the denture to stay in place, and to be able to speak, I’m forced to take 3-4 painkillers daily. There are days when I simply can't talk or eat because of the pain.

And because of the pills and the lack of food, my stomach is really affected.

I’ll attach photos of the prices offered by the DCT clinic in Turkey and my situation in this post. I’m not exactly sure how this site works, but right now, it’s my last hope. Maybe I’ll get lucky too.

To be honest with you, I’m not very good with words and phrasing, I’ve written down some of what I feel every day. And maybe with a few tears in my eyes. I hope this post will be useful to me, who knows... The reality is that this site is my last hope. And I need help, which I will repay in small measures whenever I see someone in need. As I’ve used to do until now. My little bit means a lot to others, and the problem I can’t see a solution to is a very small problem for others. You never know.

Sorry for my English, but this is not my first language.

Thank you so much, and God bless you.