Due to popular demand the Cancer Fairy Godmother has been asked if she can find information on how to find free or low cost dental care. Going through cancer therapy is an especially difficult time, so we want to do all we can to help cure cancer by staying healthy, including taking preventative measures for oral health before they become more serious.
Here are some sources to help you find dental care:
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- Donated Dental Services has at least one program coordinator in each state
- Find a Federally Qualified Health Center
- Contact the nearest dental school
- Learn how to obtain health insurance with Cover the Uninsured
- Read Finding Low-Cost Dental Care, a resource from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- Various professional associations help with “find-a-dentist” tools online:
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello my name is Amanda joann Hamilton and Im a 34 year old mother of three that went through breast cancer 4 years ago and so far i am in remission and very thankful for it. However the Chemo and radiation treatments took a horriable tole on my teeth and i have no means of being able to have them fixed. I have had a few taken out here and there and yes I’ve even taken out a few myself. My whole mouth hurts a good magority of the time and I am really in need of some type of assitance. please find it in your heart to try and help me. But if you cant i will understand and sure pray God will continue to bless the work you all are doing.
Sincerly,
Amanda J Hamilton
Please help me help my sister. she has cancer and has lost her top plate. She has no money.
Thanks,
Millie Taggart (her sister)
I have a sister who was diagnoses with ready cancer at age 34. She has been in remission for the last 3 years, but doctors recently found a spot on her thigh. She is scared to death and doesn’t know how she will be able to face this next round in her life. The chemo has taken an awful toll on her once-beautiful smile. She has lost all self confidence and hope. I’m asking anyone who has any dental experience to please consider her as a potential patient. She has no insurance and really no way of paying for all the work she needs. I have a big God and I know He is in control and can provide a way. Please if this story touches you in any way to help, know you would be an answer to her prayer! Thank you for reading!!
Brooke (a loving sister)
My husband has had chemotherapy for melanoma cancer and his once nice smile has turned into terror…when he eats he loses a piece of tooth everytime…his front teeth are halfway and are black now…his back teeth are just breaking slowly and he has pain that just won’t go…He use to be a joker and make everyone laugh but lately the laughter has turned silent…please all his teeth are horrible looking and I don’t know if he has any infections…he is done with chemotherapy for over a year now…someone with a kind heart please let me know if you can help him regain his sense of self again…thank you…
Hi my name is Jennifer and I have stage 4 breast cancer. I’ve already had to have a double radical mastectomy with the removal of 18 lymphnods and have very bad front and back teeth. I can’t smile and I can’t chew the proper foods I need to be healthy and fight off the cancer. I have lost all of what little self esteem that I had left and dignity also. I don’t have any money from all the surges and treatments, gas from having to drive from Alvarado Texas to Tulsa Oklahoma to the cancer treatment centers of America twice a month for treatment( right now it’s hormone therapy ( hormone blockers). It’s taking every dime we have to keep afloat and make our house payment and other bill and my health INS is $323.00 a month with no money left for my teeth. My health could be better if I could fix the teeth that I do have left. Because of my mastectomy and my ugly teeth, I’ve lost all my self esteem and now it’s also jeopardizing my marriage. I don’t want to be looked at, kiss or even be touched because I feel so ugly and gross.and on top of it all it’s put me into a deep depression. I don’t Like to even dress up anymore fearing that it will draw attention to my face and body. If there is any dentist in or near my area, I pray that one will find it in his or her heart to help me to be the woman I once was. I never had breast reconstruction and never will, it’s something that can be hidden but ur teeth cannot be they r the first thing a person loons at and I feel that they and all the cancer treatments I’ve endured have made me look like I’ve aged at least 20 yrs older than I am and I am only 39.if there is a person who could help me and what ever help I can give you in return for your gracious help.I really really want to be happy and not be depressed anymore and be able to eat good foods and smile at my husband again. Thank u for raking the time to read this and god bless you all, thank you and I pray that there is someone who can help me, thanks again, Jennifer my contact # is 817-933-3405 call at anytime day or evening!! Leave a mess if I don’t pick up in time thanks again jennifer
Notify me via text message if possible at 817-933-3405 so I may return the call as soon as possible thanks again Jennifer k
I too have had to go through hell the past year and a half….blood transfusions, chemo, double masectomy, radiation, expansion…. And of course on top of all that, all of my teeth are splitting and falling apart. I stopped thinking about the fairness of all of this especially now that the govt has decided I need to find a way to pay for everything on my own. Exactly how do i do this when I cannot work full time and everything I had is gone from paying what insurance doesnt cover. My teeth are holding on for dear life, but my face swells, there is constant pain and the absolute knowledge that very soon, my front teeth are going to literally fall out of my head. Yes, I have held on to as much of my vanity as I can, but this is just my breaking point. Anyone in the Mid -Illinois area, or ANYWHERE in Illinois that knows where I can get help, please let me know: ebby_ewok@live.com or 309-340-2267……thank you
Hi, I have gone thru chemo in 2009 and stem cell transplant. I am now going thru treatment to put me into remission. I have bad teeth. I have had dentures made but I cannot afford to have teeth pulled. I have struggle through foreclosures and lots other things. I would love to once be able to smile and show my teeth since I have always been laughed at cause of my teeth. It would be a great confindence builder and help me with my health since good health starts with a healthy smile. I live in Colorado. Please this is a huge wish for me.before.a.cancer takes me just 1 picture with my family with a smile tythat I can be proud of. Thank you.
I have lost a tooth and crown due to chemo. I now have insurance but am not working much due to recovery of reconstruction and other medical complications due to the cancer. I am looking for help with the copay. I live in Michigan if you know of anyone who could help please let me know…
So im gonna try this, I’m trying to get my teeth fixed. Im dealing with stage 3 brain cancer. Right now doing alright so I would really like to find some help and get teeth fixed. Live in pauls valley Oklahoma. Lost job and insurance about year after surgery. I get Medicaid abd ssi but im married and have a 5 yr old boy so very low on funds. If anyone knows of anything that could help please let me know. Thanks!
My stepdad got his first cancer at 34 colon then liver at 35 he did chemo and radiation with both this past year he got colon again and we found our he has lynch syndrome a genetic disease that causes colon cancer he had to again do chemo and radiation and he now have a port that he gets his food though his teeth have started to fall out and it is very painful for him he hasn’t worked in a year and has health insurance but not dental. I would like help for him he is the type of man to never ask for help yet will give the shirt off his back. Please can someone help him?? Thanks
Toni
I went n looked at the Donated Dental Site because I am trying to find help for a co-worker friend. She is a 36 yr old Thyroid Cancer survivor who’s teeth are ruined due to radiation therapy. I am posting to ask a question and hopefully stir some people to rethink the way we look at charity. I noticed the qualifications for the donated dental association stated the following:
One must lack adequate income to pay for dental care and be:
Permanently disabled or
Medically at-risk or
65 years old or older
But here’s the thing – these people listed above should be receiving disability checks, Medicaid or Medicare, and/or retirement. Considering that living expenses decrease in most cases, I do not understand why we focus efforts on this group rather than those who are (like my friend), working one it two jobs or more to make ends meet, living on their own, with no family support? In my friends case, her mother is dead (of cancer) n her father does nothing for her! She is not laying on her rump claiming diability bc she can work but even with two jobs she can’t get ahead when you have $9000 in dental expenses because you wake up with all your bottom front teeth having fallen out while u slept, the temp filling (that the dentist keeps trying to patch for u bc he knows u can’t afford a crown) coming out every few months, n even with paying for a discount dental plan, each crown is still $500! Everyone I talk with about charity help always says they want to help those who are doing their best to help themselves, but in most cases, that’s not what we do! So, if u agree with me n know of any real help for my friend, PLEASE email me at Jcslady@charter.net I am giving her what I can and am covering one crown for her but she currently has two other cracked teeth n another one needing a crown so any help is appreciated. Godbless.
Please visit the gofund me page created by my daughter, and help me save my mouth. Thank you.
http://www.gofundme.com/1z3nuk
Please visit the go fund me page created by my daughter, and help me save my mouth. Thank you very much for the time and God Bless.
Hi Wendy!
I hear you! I too went rhough thyroid cancer and radiation treatment and am stuggling with the same issues as your friend. I need major dental work and can’t afford it. I don’t qualify for assistance because I’m not under 18 or older than 55. I’ve done alot of research and still have no answers. God bless you for helping her! I rarely smile any more but will keep looking for help and will post if I find anything.
Dear Wendy and Laura,
My adult daughter is in the same situation, thyroid cancer and now her top four teeth are missing. She has a young son; all our finances are now exhausted. I’ve been doing tons of research and one option is to go to Tijuana, if you are in California. Cost is about 20 percent of what it is here. Of course, that still means you need money. I’ve raised about $1200 so far through chipin.com but the site is being shut down in 10 days by new owners. Something similar may appear to replace it, though. If you want any Tijuana referrals, just post here and I’ll respond.
Oops, forgot to click “notify” so I have to make another comment to trigger it.
Hello, My name is Sarah. I am a cancer survivor of non-hodgekins lymphoma. It has been 10 years. However, as grateful as I am, my life has changed completely. My ex left me during treatments and when we divorced sent bad checks for my health insurance. I have lost most of my teeth and have large medical bills due to an immune deficiency. I raised my four boys alone and now that they are grown, I am attending college to acquire a bachelors in Early Childhood education. I try to make payments, but as an ECE educator only make 8,75 an hour at a Lutheran School. I can’t even smile as much as I used to and always have infections in my mouth from the radiation in my head and neck. Every dentist I go to always seem bothered by my issues and do just enough, but not enough. State funded facilities only remove teeth but everything else is considered cosmetic. Most of my teeth have already been removed. I am very upset my oncologist did not warrent other medications to prevent this aching, embarrassing problem. I am 52 and really need some help.
Thank you …Sarah Patrick
I am going through cancer treatment tor the second time my teeth is breaking and falling because of the chemo please help I want to smile again
please send me comments
hello, hello, hello
hope everyone is doing well and alive (cause 6 feet above ground is great)
i am looking for a dentist in philadelphia that specialize in working on people with or have gone thru cancer.
my teeth have gone thru a fight with the help of that crazy chemo
if any one have a dentist that grind down teeth please send me the information
thank you
thank you
thank you
and remember …. today is the first day of the rest of your life so let’s have fuuuuunnnnnnnn
I’m looking for a dentist close by in Winfield Ks for my son that has cancer he can’t travel long distances because of his leb and the cancer in the bones.His dentures have gotten lost from moving awhile back and his medicare won’t cover dental for adults.He needs teeth to try and eat healthy,so i hope and Pray you can help him Ty
Hi, I am 47 and going through breast cancer for a 2nd time, now Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer to the bone. I live in Colorado, and my teeth are cracking, splitting, breaking due to the 6 months of chemotherapy that I went through. I am on social security disability, with no insurance. What services would be available to help my teeth situation?
Thank you in advance, and bless you for the help you give others.
I am praying for some help for my 73 yr. Old dad..he has multiple myeloma in which the treatment has rotted his teeth. He desperately needs all teeth extracted and dentures. His insurance doesn’t cover any dental and Medicare wont pay. He is one of the sweetest men on earth and desperately need some help. God bless
Meant to check this box.thank you
Base of tongue stage 4 cancer survivor x 5 years. due to radiation I developed an infection in my lower teeth and they all had to be pulled. No insurance to buy bottom plate. Eating is now a problem because of no bottom teeth and because the radiation damaged my esophogus and I can not eat solid foods. Every six weeks I go in for dialation so I can eat soft foods. Have also lost a lot of upper teeth, As a survivor I would love to smile. Is there a dentist that can help.