Eric, 43, is legally blind and lives in Clarksville. He was born with a large oblique facial palate that extends through his nose and eye. Despite having undergone more than 20 reconstructive surgeries, he still lives with chronic pain.
In addition to his overall health, his oral health was in desperate need of attention. Nearly all of his teeth had become decayed and broken with only a few teeth intact. Unfortunately, Eric was unable to afford the dental treatment he needed. Surviving on food stamps and a small Social Security benefit, he struggles to make ends meet. Despite his severe dental problems, treatment seemed far beyond his reach.
How DDS Helped
Fortunately, Eric applied to the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program and was linked with four generous volunteers.
- Dr. Jennifer Cornell, donated full upper and lower implant-supported dentures.
- Oral surgeon Dr. Harry Mack extracted 19 root tips and the rest of Eric’s teeth.
- Periodontist Dr. Timothy Carter placed four implants.
- M.K. Dental Lab fabricated the appliances at no cost.
“The best part of the experience was being able to get all the rotten teeth removed and new dentures.”
— Eric, DDS Patient
“Providing dental services for DDS patients has brought not only myself great joy and satisfaction but also my team. We truly enjoy getting to know these patients, learning their stories and assisting them in any way that we can.”
— Dr. Jennifer Cornell, DDS
The post DLN Success Story – DDS Volunteer Restores Tennessee Man’s Smile appeared first on Dental Lifeline Network.
