To be specific: my two front teeth are off-center and one is broken. I was born without some of the teeth beside them, and one tooth never descended and is impacted. Some of my baby teeth never fell out and instead just wore away into nothing. I have a temporary crown - one of the few procedures I've ever been able to afford - that is now loose and about to fall out. It is in the front of my mouth, preventing me from biting into food properly. I have a missing molar, extracted without anesthetic (I could not afford it) after it became infected. Another molar is cracked down the middle and the nerve is exposed, and the molar behind it had a root canal years ago that I could not afford to have capped. I do not chew on that side. I have a multitude of cavities.

I brush every day. I use various mouthwashes, a water jet and floss. It does not help much. The damage is done and I am a walking nightmare. Little kids point at me and ask their parents why the lady looks like a Jack O Lantern (I wish I was joking). Soon I won't be able to eat at all, and the constant pain keeps me awake every night with jaw pain, headaches and migraines. I'm pretty sure I have an infection at this point, but there's nothing I can do about it.

I do not have insurance, and I need so much work done that most dental insurance companies won't cover me, or don't offer enough coverage to help me get myself fixed. I was laid off two months ago and am existing on unemployment and the kindness of friends.

I guess... I guess I'm hoping that somewhere in Austin there's a dentist who puts patient before paycheck. I realise people need to get paid for their work but I can't afford the insane amount of money that dental work costs. But I am tired of living like this. Even if I have to have all my teeth pulled and wear dentures forever, I don't care. I just want to eat and not hurt and be able to smile at my boyfriend the way he deserves to be. I'm tired of being a freak. I'm tired of pain.

Someone, please, help me?