Imagine going for your dental routine
ritual only to get the shocker of your life when you’re done. That is
what happened to Nikki Stanley, 46, when she visited the dentist to have
her crowns replaced.
ritual only to get the shocker of your life when you’re done. That is
what happened to Nikki Stanley, 46, when she visited the dentist to have
her crowns replaced.
One thing was for sure- she certainly
didn’t expect to be left with no upper teeth at all.
didn’t expect to be left with no upper teeth at all.
Unfortunately, that
is exactly what happened and six years later, Ms Stanley says she is
still too embarrassed to leave the house.
is exactly what happened and six years later, Ms Stanley says she is
still too embarrassed to leave the house.
‘I had never been embarrassed about how my teeth are,’ says the lass from London.
‘Not until the age of 40 when I thought I
was going in to get my teeth done and a couple of crowns fitted and
ended up with no teeth.’
was going in to get my teeth done and a couple of crowns fitted and
ended up with no teeth.’
‘When I came round back at home in my bed,
I was horrified,’ she said amidst tears, ”I thought I was going to wake
up with my teeth crowned or at least my teeth filed down ready to have
the crowns fitted the next week but instead, she’d just removed my
teeth.’
I was horrified,’ she said amidst tears, ”I thought I was going to wake
up with my teeth crowned or at least my teeth filed down ready to have
the crowns fitted the next week but instead, she’d just removed my
teeth.’
This experience sparked fear in the
learning support assistant so much that she was too frightened to get
help when she began experiencing problems with her bottom teeth – and
now has just five left in total.
learning support assistant so much that she was too frightened to get
help when she began experiencing problems with her bottom teeth – and
now has just five left in total.
Apparently, the dentist had given her a
dental plate but Ms Stanley says she wasn’t told how to use the device
and says wearing it is ‘alien’ to her. Ms Stanley became so
self-conscious about her unsightly teeth, she is afraid to leave the
house – a problem made worse by cruel bullies who insult her looks in
the street.
dental plate but Ms Stanley says she wasn’t told how to use the device
and says wearing it is ‘alien’ to her. Ms Stanley became so
self-conscious about her unsightly teeth, she is afraid to leave the
house – a problem made worse by cruel bullies who insult her looks in
the street.
‘I’m on borrowed time, borrowed time,’ she says. ‘I have five teeth left and it t has really affected my life.
‘I don’t go out. I’m just happier staying
at home. The one time I stop thinking about my appearance and what I
look like is when I’m in my garden, gardening.
at home. The one time I stop thinking about my appearance and what I
look like is when I’m in my garden, gardening.
‘I just enjoy it because I don’t have to
interact with anyone. I don’t have to put my hand in front of my mouth
when I’m talking to my plants.
interact with anyone. I don’t have to put my hand in front of my mouth
when I’m talking to my plants.
‘I haven’t really got any quality of life
to speak of. I’m happier at home than I am going out because I haven’t
got to face people.’
to speak of. I’m happier at home than I am going out because I haven’t
got to face people.’
I’ve basically been told that I’m a mess,’ adds Ms Stanley. ‘I’ve been told that I’m an embarrassment.
‘Once someone says that to you, where do you go from there? There’s nowhere else to go.’
The single mom of a lovely boy regrets she would ever date again, saying her confidence were dashed after the procedure.
‘I’m single and I can’t imagine meeting
anyone or being with anyone like that,’ she says. ‘Who’d want to be with
someone like me? I haven’t got a life. I exist but I don’t live.’
anyone or being with anyone like that,’ she says. ‘Who’d want to be with
someone like me? I haven’t got a life. I exist but I don’t live.’
Fortunately the situation took a flip turn
when Ms Stanley was offered a reconstruction operation by Harley Street
surgeon, Dr Anthony Zybutz, who specialises in tooth implants.
when Ms Stanley was offered a reconstruction operation by Harley Street
surgeon, Dr Anthony Zybutz, who specialises in tooth implants.
He was forced to remove her remaining
teeth and remove rotten stumps from her upper gums but, after eight
hours in surgery, successfully completed the operation.
teeth and remove rotten stumps from her upper gums but, after eight
hours in surgery, successfully completed the operation.
A delighted Ms Stanley says the surgery
has been life-changing. ‘It’s unbelievable,’ she beams. ‘It’s just nice
to go out and hold my head up and smile and not look down when people
look at me.
has been life-changing. ‘It’s unbelievable,’ she beams. ‘It’s just nice
to go out and hold my head up and smile and not look down when people
look at me.
‘It was kill or cure for me. I’m so much
happier now that at the end of the day, my cheeks hurt from smiling so
much. There’s nothing to stop me doing anything now,’ adds Ms Stanley.
‘Having the surgery has just changed my life. It really has.’
happier now that at the end of the day, my cheeks hurt from smiling so
much. There’s nothing to stop me doing anything now,’ adds Ms Stanley.
‘Having the surgery has just changed my life. It really has.’