Wishaw Press

You could help Jane smile again

- MICHAEL PRINGLE

A Wishaw mum who suffers from constant neurologic­al pain has launched a crowdfunde­r in the hope that she might be able to smile properly again.

Jane Brown, 52, from Cambusneth­an is hoping to raise enough money to have dental implants and crowns abroad after being told she can’t have the work done on the NHS.

The mum-of-three suffers from fibromyalg­ia and had all of her teeth removed two years ago in a bid to stop the excruciati­ng pain she felt in her mouth.

Fibromyalg­ia has no cure and causes widespread pain over the entire body and extreme tiredness. Symptoms vary from person to person.

Jane explained: “The condition affects the nerves within the muscle tissue of the body and I’ve had to suffer pain most of my life.

“My gums were so painful because of the neurologic­al pain caused by the condition.

“It was like suffering from severe toothache 24/7.

“It was day and night and I just couldn’t stand it any longer.

“I went to my doctor who said they couldn’t deal with it and I would need to go to the dentist.”

Jane was then referred by the dentist to the Glasgow Dental Hospital for a consultati­on two years ago.

She continued: “When I went to the appointmen­t at the dental hospital they said to me that I would need to have them all pulled out.

“I ended up getting them taken out but it wasn’t on the one day, they took them out in stages at appointmen­ts, at first it was three teeth, then five, then another three, and another five.

“It was about an hour

for each appointmen­t.”

Although Jane was happy that the pain in her mouth had finally relented her dental problems were far from over.

She had dentures made but wasn’t able to wear them.

“I don’t have enough gum growth to wear them, they don’t fit properly and just fall straight back out.,” she said.

“So I’m walking about with no teeth. I have good bone underneath the gum for implants but the NHS won’t pay for this type of dentistry.

“It can cost around £3000-plus for dental implants privately and I don’t have that type of money.”

Jane also suffers from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and it has worsened since having her teeth removed.

“It’s because I can’t chew my food properly,” she admits.

Jane is desperate to have the implants fitted.

After doing some research she discovered that an entire set of implants and porcelain crowns can cost around £8000 in some European countries – less than half of what it would cost in the UK.

She has set up at GoFundMe page to try and raise the money that could put a real smile on her face.

Jane added: “I do regret getting them taken out because I can’t wear dentures but it got rid of the pain, which was too much.

“I’m getting so depressed about it and have lost my confidence.

“I can’t smile properly for fear of humiliatio­n and embarrassm­ent.

“I’m feeling desperate and just hope that people can help me to look and feel normal again, and smile properly again.”

You can you help Jane by donating at : gofundme.com/f/Help-Jane-pay-for-muchneeded-dental-implants?

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