Ep. 60: Patient Interview - Christina: A Second Beginning

Part 10:00

This is Beyond the Arches, where full-arch dentistry meets real talk. Let's get into it. Hello and welcome back to Beyond the Arches. My name is Erica and today I'm joined by Dr. Daniel Noorthoek. Yo. And a very fresh out of surgery surgical patient, Christina. Hello, hello. Hi, thank you for joining us today. You're very welcome. So this is kind of a fun episode. It's just a little bit of a get to know you. Obviously, you're very fresh, as fresh as you're not even actually in your final set of zirconia yet. You just had surgery a couple of days ago.

So that's really exciting and we're excited for you. And you actually did travel in a little bit. So let's start off on kind of just like where you grew up. I know you were originally from Florida, but you no longer live in Florida. So this is kind of familiar to you. Well, I'm actually from New Jersey originally. Okay. But I've been coming down to Florida ever since I was in my mother's womb. Okay. Every summer. And we moved down, here in 2013. And I've been in Florida for the past, basically decade, you know, more until I had that car accident. And then when I had the car accident, I was unable to take care of myself.

So I had to go up and stay with my family in Virginia. But I was researching to get my teeth fixed during the whole process of healing from that accident. And I found Dun & One. And I read about your travel package. And I was like, okay, I'm going to go to New York. And I was like, I'm going to go to New York. And I was like, okay, I'm going to go to New York. And I was like, everything that you offered. But I also did research a bunch of other places too.

And, but in the end, you guys are the ones I chose. So very glad I did. We'll get into that in a minute. What, um, where did you live in Florida? And where did you live in? Or where do you live in Virginia? Okay, so in Florida, I lived in Southwest Florida, Cape Coral and Bradenton area. Nice. Yes, absolutely gorgeous. Crystal clear, blue waters, manatees, dolphins, non-migrant dolphins, by the way. Um, and then in Virginia, I live at the top of a mountain. At the top of a mountain. Yeah. Beautiful. So more in the western portion or middle? No, very south. 45 minutes from Carolina. Okay. Carolina. All right. Cool.

I did some of my training in, um, Richmond, Virginia. So I was around there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, welcome. That's awesome. And, um, tell us about just in general, um, you know, what, what kind of things that you like to do? What are your hobbies? What are your interests? What do you do for a living? Well, right now, um, previous jobs, I have been a store manager. I ran my own store off ▶Anna Maria Island and it was, I did absolutely wonderful, but being on the island and having the island life, I decided to take a leap of faith. I did absolutely wonderful. I did absolutely wonderful, but being on the island and having the island life, I decided to take a leap of faith.

And I went 500 feet across the street to the marina and started working at Keys Marina, uh, for fun boat tours. Oh, that's cool. As a first mate deckhand. And, um, yeah, we worked from, I would work 12, 15 hour days. We were certified under the USCG. So I had to do drills and be up to the standards of the United States Coast Guard doing that job. Um, very, very proud of that. And I was also getting into teaching yoga on paddleboards as well.

Oh, so I've been doing yoga for probably since I was 15. I have also danced my entire life growing up. Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern contemporary. Um, so just a very active person. I used to run 20 miles a week. I would wake up before my days to go on the boat, run five miles, go to the marina, work all day. Good for you. Disciplined and strict. Yeah. What, um, at the marina, what kind of, uh, activities, what kind of, like tours and activities were you involved with? So we would take you out. We had a morning tour.

It was dolphins and donuts. Okay. And then we had the two afternoon tours. Um, and they were just the morning tours more for children, obviously. Um, the afternoon, it's nice to go out, you know, if you just want to do something during the day, but then I always suggest the sunset cruise because each tour is two hours. The sunset is two and a half, but we do. We do karaoke on the way. Oh boy. Nice. Oh my goodness. So much fun. So much fun.

I bet you were exposed to and saw a lot of unique and interesting individuals. Oh, well, oh, so many people, but it's so very special because you become part of their vacation. So I have it, not just the wildlife, not just the bird rookery you see in the manatees, the non-migrant bottlenose dolphins, the population is growing and growing. It's growing 120 from, uh, Anna Maria, the Anna Maria sound up into the Tampa Bay. Wow. Absolutely amazing. Definitely something to check out. But, uh, yeah, I mean, it's just one of a kind. I actually have the best story. This is my favorite story. Um, we did, people would book an all day charter. They pay, you know, eight, 12 hours and it was for a wedding.

They had just got married. So they were on their honeymoon. They were from Wyoming. So they weren't familiar with sea life whatsoever. Well, we went out and they saw the, we put out the lily pad. We bring the paddle boards. I'll teach him how to do paddle boards and work with them, do all the fun stuff. But they saw a manatee and they were like, oh my gosh, what is that? You know? And I'm like, guys, don't worry. Don't worry. Cause manatees are the only sea creature. Literally. It's a hundred percent harmless. They have absolutely no teeth whatsoever. They had 150.

50 pounds of seagrass a day. And they're just so beautiful. And they, they, they can tell your like instinct and they can feel your, your energy. So I told them, you know, don't be worried. Um, me personally, I talked to all the animals. Yes, I do. So I would go under and I would say, you know, I would say, I love you, mama. You're so beautiful. And I could always tell because when they put their fins up, you could see the mammary glands and they do nurse for 18 months.

Okay. Yes. So, um, but anyways, um, so I, as soon as I came up, you know, she was comfortable. She's hanging out with us, big mama manatee. And, uh, she literally took her fins and wrapped them around my leg. Oh my goodness. That's crazy. And I, I was hugged by a manatee. Do they build relationships? You see how like dolphins, like dolphins will remember people are manatees similar. Oh, very much so. Okay. And the same with the dolphins. They'll remember people. They'll remember people.

I started naming them because we're out there all day. We see the same population every single day. And it's the connection you have with them. They will look you in the eyes. They're turning and they're looking at you and they're just so they're very, their intelligence, it surpasses. And I'm sorry, nothing against us. I mean, we're all mammals, but still they surpasses like their intelligence is outstanding. It's weird to think of a world where that like seeing a manatee is so foreign. You don't even really know what a manatee is. Yeah.

Cause it's a, it's a daily, not daily, but close to a daily occurrence. Yeah. Um, they come up occasionally up to the dock and they like to sort of find, uh, fresh water. So if you run a hose off of a dock for long enough, they'll, they'll come find it. Yeah. It's pretty awesome. I used to do it all the time. I used to get yelled at. I said, if you were the manatee, I would do it for you too.

Were these different boats as you were like doing the different charters and tours, are they different boats for different functions or were they the same? Yeah. The owner had, um, cause he had two locations. He had a location in Siesta Key and then off Anna Maria Island. I only worked Anna Maria Island because I preferably only really loved the wildlife. The, the Siesta Key location was more like, this is the heiress of Robitussin. This is, um, you know, a football player. More of a celebrity tour. Yeah. And I'm not into that. I want, I want to see the wildlife. How did your family end up in the West coast of Florida? Was it a, uh, a grandma or something like that? Yeah. It's usually the common connector for West coast. Yeah. They moved down in the eighties. Awesome. And they live there full time or? Yeah. Well, sadly they're, they, they passed both, um, my grandfather in 2005 and then my grandmother in 2023. So they're not with us anymore. Yeah. The, you live in the top of a mountain now in Virginia. Yes. Not so happy.

No, you don't like it. It's a big change. Oh, I was, I was expecting you were going to say that

Part 29:16

you love it. No, it's, it's gorgeous. It's beautiful. I appreciate it. Not enough manatees. No, not, there's no manatees. There's none. And I love, I love the water. I'm a cancer. I'm a water sign. And I, it's home to me. I always felt like a landlocked soul. I truly have. I always felt like if my, like if in recarnation, I will come back as manatee. I could eat 150 pounds of seagrass. So, but that's awesome. Yeah. Um, what about the dance?

So how did, how did you get into dance? My dad married my dance teacher. Okay. So yes, when I was, I started dancing when I was six and I, I did ballet and tap. Very cool. And then, uh, my dad and my, my dance teacher, they ended up going out and getting to know one another. And then next thing you know, she, uh, once they were together, together, uh, she put me in every single dance class. I'm sure. Yeah. I spent my childhood at the studio, which I do not complain about because it was like the best part of my childhood. Yeah. I've always been fascinated with tap dance. Talk to us about tap dance.

It is, it is skilled. It is beautiful. It, it's fun. It's, I don't know. I love it. So I loved, I love all dance. Is, do you have to have a better rhythm and know more on that way or anybody just comes out? Anybody can dance. It's, it's, it's having an instructor. It's repetitious. It's not giving up. You know, if you mess up, you keep on going. You don't stop. Yeah. You know, nobody's going to know if you mess up, you, you miss.

But you always want to make sure you're on your counts. So do you still do, uh, any, any type of dance still? I do not, but I do plan on, um, partaking in ballroom dancing. Okay. I want to learn more. I want to learn, um, you know, the Foxtrot. I want to learn all of it. Yeah. The waltz. You'll probably pick it up in a minute. Tango. You've never done any of that type of dance? No. Wow.

I'm sure you'll pick it up in a minute. Talk to us about your dental journey. So, um, what led you to this point? Uh, and, and how did you get there? What's your story in terms of, you know, everyone that listens to this is going to have somewhat of a story of their own way of coming to it. And one thing that's really cool about doing the patient interviews is that they can find like little slivers of a similar story, et cetera. So what's, what's your story? Yeah. 100%.

Um, teeth are big to me and I, I think everybody can agree. They want to look in the mirror and they want to smile and they want to look back and, and love what they see. Um, I, it's not that I ▶haven't always taken care of my teeth because I have, I've always growing up, my stepmother was, she worked for an orthodontist. So I even had braces when I was a kid. Um, no, I was bad wearing the retainer. Yes, we know. But, um, so as I, you know, grew older, um, I still want to, to the dentist. Uh, I did have cavities. I got them filled. I did the best I could to take care of, you know, my teeth. And, um, it wasn't until this accident that I was in. And if I wasn't in the accident, I would have been able to afford once that tooth cracked on the left side, I would have been able to get it fixed. But because of circumstances, I wasn't financially able to do so. So for, ▶for the past two years, almost two years, it has just, I mean, it's decayed, it's broken, it's worse and worse, you know, each month passes. And, um, that's, that's why I started researching about, you know, getting my teeth done. And my family, honestly, they were all against it. They're like, oh, it's a waste of money. Why would, why would you spend that much money on your teeth? Why don't you get veneers? Um, no, I'm going to do this because this is, this is a, this is a health investment for me. This is the next 30 years of my life. You guys offer a lifetime warranty. It's $59 a month. That is easy, simple. You know, you make it, you guys literally are helping people and I can't thank you enough for that. It's amazing. Well, you're very welcome.

It's, um, it's, it has come down to a lot of what we do really tries to tailor towards what would make sense, you know? So maybe, you know, I don't know, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe we wouldn't make sense at $120 and maybe at $30, we wouldn't be able to, uh, to include the same services and the same peace of mind. So it's been really a process of years of just trying to figure out what's going to be best for you. What's, what's going to make you the most appreciative of, of the things that you're affording for yourself, but also not feel like you've been taken for a ride. So it's been a, it's been a big, long journey. Um, as you were starting to kind of come to the reality, that, that you were going to be doing something like this. Um, what was that period of time? Like, was it, was it hard for you to, to search out and make a decision, but not, not necessarily make a decision. Let's keep it in the, in the you personally, was it hard for you to bring yourself to the reality that you were going to do this? Or did you just say, you know what, you woke up one day and said, well, you know what, I'm going to do this and just jumped on the research. Like, where did you fall in that?

I jumped on the research. I woke up, I was tired of, I'm going to be as honest as can be. My, it was so bad. I would wake up and it smelled like something died in my mouth. I do not want to live like that. It's not healthy. It's not okay. And for anybody that else that is dealing with that, my heart goes out to you because I know how it feels. And then the tooth pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night, 2 AM, 4 AM, you're putting a glass of hot tea on your cheeks. You're rocking back and forth. So no, this was, I was a hundred percent sure when I started doing my research, I said, this is happening. I don't care what anyone says, like I'm doing this.

Until that point, had you done a bunch of just like small stuff to keep sort of band-aids if you will, or things to keep the peace? Yeah. Root canals. Yep. I've had, well, I had the one done and like I said, I could have, and that was the same tooth on the right side, which I would have needed the one done on the left side. To start to decay. Like, and if I could have taken care of it, I would have, but I mean, everything happens for a reason and I'm sitting here today. So best decision I ever made.

That's awesome. And you're not even in finals yet. And full disclosure, I did not do the surgery. I think this is our first patient guess that I didn't do the surgery. I think you're right. Yeah. So congrats of sorts to that. Yeah. Honestly, I wouldn't have known the difference because I thought he was, and I was like, you look great. You look different. As you started to make that decision, what were the key points of things that you wanted to have in a location and what were the things that you looked for? Was it more, obviously it wasn't, but like, was it initially like I want somewhere close? Was it a lot of financial considerations? What were the things that factored into your decision?

It didn't really have anything to do for, there was no financial decision for me. I was, it was less than enough to be able to do this. I'm very grateful for that. It was more or less where I would feel safe and what you guys would offer. So I've, I've probably looked at 30 to 40 different places and I mean from PA to New Jersey to Virginia, different places in Virginia, down in Florida, Miami, Nevada, I mean all over.

Did you look, sorry to interrupt. Did you look, did you get anything out of the country? I did. Dubai. But again, it's me traveling by myself and I just don't feel that safe. And I don't want to go to a country where I don't speak, you know, their language. Tough, for sure. Very. As you put all of these things together, did, how many of those places did you talk to? Probably four or five. And I was literally just about to send them like a deposit, deposit. And I believe it was you that called.

▶I think Alex called you, but you and I definitely had a consultation together. So I don't know what the, what the timeline of that exactly was. So whoever called me was so very kind. She was so very sweet. I, I had Phil already talked to so many people. So I was a little like unsure. I'm like, which one is this? But then we spoke and she set me up for a consultation. She told me, you know, Boca Raton.

Part 318:25

Um, I did, like I said, I have lived in Florida for the past decade. I didn't really want to travel all the way to Nevada by myself. And I felt more comfortable. You guys offer the travel package, which I cannot thank you enough because you had made this journey so easy, the entire experience, you know, it's, it's rough enough getting, you know, all of them, your teeth. Yeah. But to, to come by yourself and not have anybody to, you know, be by your side, that's one thing. But you guys, you picked from, from the moment on the phone, you know, you, you book my flights, you book the hotel, you pick me up from the airport, you bring me to and from the appointments. I mean, I can't thank you. I mean, you guys have gone above and beyond.

It's, um, it's really fun to, to hear that. Um, because when we started this whole process, that wasn't anything that was on the radar. Yeah. And it wasn't anything that was being done. And what happened with it, I think I've told this story on the podcast before, but I had a surgery on my shoulder and, um, we were on a ski trip in Vail and I had done a bunch of good amount of research. I had looked into a couple of places and there was one location, one place called the Stedman clinic. And we had a random day that we didn't have any skiing scheduled. And so I told my wife, like, we're going to go in and we're going to see what this place is all about. I called them, they'll see me. We went in, in full ski regalia. I had my ski boots on and everything. I don't even think I even had like regular boots on. Um, so it was very hot when we walked in the waiting room. Um, they did an exam and they said, great, let's do it. And the first, when I, when I sat with a, with a surgery coordinator, you know, I was like, well, I come from Florida and they see, when you walk into this place, it's probably, I guess if they're on the wall, you could say, but like, it was huge names like Rob, Rob Gronkowski. It was Tom Brady. It was Tiger Woods. It was Lindsey Vaughn. It was, um, Pele. It was all across every sport was, and even the exam rooms were just lined with people and figures that, you know, thank you for fixing all that.

And, um, I was like, well, you probably, deal with like a lot of people from out of state. Like, what do they do? They just kind of make their own plans. And she said, yeah, this is, um, yeah, we, we do. And we have a list of like preferred people that we'll give you contact with and it works out best for G uh, geography. So we went home with the intention or I scheduled it two weeks later and we went home with the intention of coming back exactly two weeks later. And then COVID hit COVID hit like shut down right when we basically landed, um, from that, trip. And so I had to wait a year, which is why my shoulder's still a little messed up, but, um, works totally fine. Um, but I went to next year and I was like, okay, I'm ready. Let's let's schedule. And they gave me a list and it was one, as Erica knows, one of my pet peeves in life is when some sort of official document for even a small practice or whatever gets photocopied over time. Cause they just decided to not, somebody decided not to print it out. And then it kind of gets shifted and skewed and starts to lose its data and quality. And she sent us this sheet that looked like that. And I was thinking, you know, like it could be better. This is not what I thought travel package or, you know, travel assistance would look like, but that whole concept kind of stayed in there. Long story short, we had a bunch of locations. We shut them down. We decided we've spent a lot of money. People are still calling in. Why don't we go ahead and do the same thing?

Let's just invite people to come here. Long story short, that is what has evolved into this travel package. And what's crazy is there wasn't one piece that was like the package didn't just like fall in. And that's what we started doing. We had a car and that was ready to go. We kind of added the car when we decided we needed it. And then as we're making plans, we were like, oh shoot, we need to add travel service as a, as a function with this register with the state. And like, there was a lot of, a lot of things that we learned along the way to the point of, and one of the reasons why I'm really kind of telling the story is yesterday we made a relationship with the medication, with, with the pharmacy that will bring us our medications for the patients that come from out of state. I would assume that we had your medications for you when you showed up. Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah. So that all came from Lilia who had worked in a nursing home, who knew this pharmacy that could deliver it. We made a relationship with them and just the whole, we were trying to remember it yesterday and we couldn't remember when we started, why we started. But it's one of those functional integral parts that probably made your experience better because when patients had to come in and scramble to get to Walgreens where we had set the prescriptions, it was a little bit of a disaster, not disaster, but it was way more hectic and annoying to you and us as it needed to be.

And so the, this travel package has really come together really cool for patients like yourself because you see it as like a benefit to yourself. Like me, me, me, right. I got to get picked up and I didn't have to do this and I didn't have to take or worry about it. Prescriptions way on our side also selfishly benefit from it because we don't have to worry. Did you show up and get your medications in time? We don't have to worry. Did you land on your flight in and you went dark on us? You know, so.

It's kind of nice to also have that control on our side as well. Now there's a lot of copycats, but it's a good idea. So why not get copies? I love it. It makes our life so much easier, especially for the medications. Like in the olden days, people's flights would get in, you know, Sunday night, nine o'clock you're landing. Okay. Well, pharmacy's closed at six. So now we can't see you for your surgery scheduled at 8am because they don't reopen until 9pm or 9am.

So there is a lot that kind of like went into that and it's a hundred percent. It's so much easier on us to just be like, okay, well, here you go. We've done all of this for you. And it's not, it's not challenging. It's not difficult. It's Daniel helps you book your flights and stuff. Lilia or I put your travel package together. Everything in that bag was pretty much hand selected by Dr. Dan to down to like the water pick, the ice pack, everything. We just know that like you can go back to your hotel and you'll be covered. Yes. And that's, that's what was, you blew my mind when Daniel, he, he dropped me off at the hotel and then he called me and he's like, I didn't give you your bag.

And I was like, what bag? And then, uh, he's like, come back downstairs. So I went back down and he gave it to me. So I brought it back up and I opened it and I was like, what? And it's, that's a gift in itself too, because that you've made it easier so that when I do get home, because it is, it is a tiring process. I will say that, um, the doctor that did pull my teeth, he said that the second day when I came in on Tuesday, he's like, wow, you look great. No swelling, no nothing. Um, and then he's like, but he's like, give it, you know, a day or two. You're really going to feel it. And he was right. You know, I was, I feel today I'm actually very tired, but I think it's just the soreness. It's a big, big to do. Um, but, and it's, your mouth has to adjust to it. It is big, you know, it's, you know, it is big. So, but it's the best decision I ever made. Yeah. I wouldn't change it. The, um, that package and stuff that the, the gift bag and such as we really, our intention is to make it feel like you didn't go very far to have this done. Yeah. And whether it be, it's your first flight, which has happened way more than we can even explain. You know, it's kind of crazy to think that there are people out there that really have never been on a plane and never seen the inside of an airport. Yeah.

Um, you don't think about that every day. Um, but to be able to help them navigate here and still feel like they're taken care of and they're not in a foreign country or place that is so bizarre to them that it makes them feel uncomfortable and interrupts the flow of the rest of everything, um, has really been a big focus and, and, uh, intention. So I'm glad you felt comfortable. You even walked to the hotel the other day. Oh yeah. It was beautiful. Well,

Part 427:20

I love the Florida sun. Yeah. And being in the mountains and this accident I was in, it just, from this, I've had four procedures. I've had two different surgeries and it changed my life. I can't do, I used to do my, you know, almost acro yoga and handstands. And I was so strong. I have to, they don't want me lifting anything more than 10 pounds. Um, I am going to start on my strength training again. I used to do cardio, like, I mean, I was running eight miles an hour on the treadmill. Yeah. Wow. You know, feet kicking my butt. So I, and it's, that's the best feeling in the world to me, you know, and it really helps mental health as well. So it was after that accident and I was in bed for six months, I was in physical therapy for four months, almost five months. So it was, it's been a long journey and I was, I'm very insecure about the scar on my stomach, my belly button down like six inches. Um, they had, they literally had to pull my, my, um, insides out just to get to the back of my spine. Wow. But everything, what, um, what, what happened with that? It was a car accident. Yes. So I was on my way to work.

Wasn't even supposed to work that night. Um, I was a manager and my employee went to the hospital. ▶So I went into cover and I never made it to work. I was on my, I was going, uh, heading East. Um, a air conditioning truck was heading North on a one way going over the bridge in, uh, Fort Myers. And I was right almost through the intersection and he T-boned me and I went, I don't know, maybe 3000 feet North. My car, um, they said it spun out. I don't know everything.

The last thing I remember was staring in the headlights and thinking to myself, I really thought this is life like goodbye. Wow. Like, that's where I, well, I did not expect to be okay. Wow. What was the road? Like, uh, obviously you're still dealing with repercussions as health issues like that happen. But, um, what was the road, the immediate recovery like for that? Oh, it was, it took, like I said, I was in bed for six months. I have a TBI, um, brain atrophy. So when they did the MRI, which wasn't until like two months ago, I had a TBI. So I was in bed for six months. I was in bed for six months. I was in bed It takes time for, I guess, for that to show up. Um, but he did say to me, he said, how many concussions have you had? And I said, I don't know, because I don't go around smacking my head.

You know, I don't do that. So, um, but he did tell me that every area in my brain was affected. My behavior was different. I was put in behavioral therapy. I was angry. I was, not myself. Like I was yelling at my mother and not like in her face and like not even realizing it. And she's like, step back, realize. And I'm like, what am I, what am I doing? Who is this person? Yeah, it was crazy. That's scary. Yeah. So you were in bed for six months because of like a spinal? Because they went in, so they, uh, did disc replacements on C4 and C5.

Um, and then they did, um, the, uh, frequency ablation, um, twice on my neck. Um, and then they did it again on my lower back and then they did disc replacement L5 and six. That's terrible. Yeah. So it feels like, and being in Virginia, when it gets cold and I bend, it feels like I have, I could feel like a metal. Oh, wow. And I'm just ready. Like the handstands and the pictures I showed you, yoga and paddle boards.

I 100, I accept 100% that yes, I'm not going to be able to do that anymore. I get it. Yeah. I don't need any more injuries. I just had my neck fixed, but I'm okay with that. You know what I mean? I'm here, I'm alive and that's good enough. Yeah. Did you have any period of time where you had to like relearn to walk and such? No. And I'm very grateful for that. I'm very grateful for that. But I did spend, I mean, I was at physical therapy like three, four times a week.

Wow. It was like a job. Yeah. It was. But they, they were all just like you guys, they were all so wonderful and they really care about you. And that's what makes a difference. And I, after that, that's when I decided to, towards the end that I wanted to possibly go back to a school. I was

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going to go to technical college and study practical nursing, but that's a possibility because I also love my skincare and I really want to be in it. Okay. I have those goals too as well. That's awesome. Yeah. Your healing is pretty remarkable actually, given, you know, your profile being fair, redheaded and having a surgery that was a little bit tougher as I understand it. You not having any bruising is, is awesome. So you must have done some good work to, to take care of it. Oh yes. I'm very, well, I'm a fanatic about vitamins. I'm very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, big on health and wellness and all that, like to the extreme. I, every single day I wake up, I take my fish oil, I take my multivitamin, I take my B complex for cognitive function.

And then, um, and then, yeah, and then I have my thyroid disease, so I have to take Glovoxil. Um, but for the most part, that's not take one other thing, but that's a woman probiotic stuff, you know, for functioning. Um, but yeah, no, I'm, I'm a believer that it's, it's really internal. You know what I mean? It's not always external. You have to take care of what's inside of your body. And I always, you know, if you throw something in the garbage and you leave it there, okay, what is it going to look like in a week? Okay. Well, that's how I started viewing my body and start you change.

▶When you start viewing it that way, you can change the way you eat. You can everything like I don't water. I like to keep it, everything. I think simple tea, no sugar, you know, as simple as can be. I'm glad that we're able to do this and spend this time with you. Cause, um, you have a, there's a con, you know, there are a lot of people that have to deal with having this reality happen from not lack of care, but from some sort of accident or event, or even just small little cuts over time. So it's a good little, you know, change in perspective. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But it's a good little change in perspective. So it's a good little, you know, not that there's anything wrong with either way, but it's nice. It's going to be nice for people to be able to hear your story that, you know, maybe if that's something that they haven't had to sort of face themselves, that, that it can be done well. And with grace, we'll say, Oh, a hundred percent. And the feeling when I stood up yesterday in the office, I was worried. I was worried because we, we know the first set was a little heavy on the bottom.

I made the reference to Jim Carrey mask, but, uh, I love my, uh, analogies. They make me, um, but it's, uh, once they were put in and I stood up, I was just, I might, I have my smile back. Yes. They're not my teeth, but no, they're yours. You paid for it. They're definitely yours, but they're not ours anymore. But it's my natural smile. Yeah. It's gorgeous. I know you said that and you screamed and I think everybody in the office ran over and looked at me like, are you okay? I was so excited.

It's unbelievable. Unbelievable. This is correct me if I'm wrong. That was your fourth set that you have in now. So I did see these. Yes. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Amazing. Yes. And I cannot wait for you to get the final. I usually tell people like two and a half is, is kind of the average. So you're just on that side. So talk to us about what that was like, since we're so recent to, and not yet quite at the final.

Um, talk to us about the try-in. What was that like first day? I would imagine it's uncomfortable. You don't know what's going on. Talk to us, you know, give us a real like gritty perspective on what it was like for that first couple of days of healing that you're still kind of in. Yeah. So it does take time to heal. I will say, um, like I said, doctor, the other doctor I saw, how are you? Yes. He was 100% right. Because yes, I, when he pulled my teeth, I wasn't wrong.

The top, not so much, but the bottoms, I feel like they just didn't want to come out. You know, maybe they didn't, they, I had all my bottom teeth, you know, but I wanted it to be a symmetrical smile, a perfect smile. Um, so that was very painful. I'm not going to lie. Very painful. I cried like a baby. Yes, I did. And, um, so, but then the, I went to, um, back to the hotel was driven by, you know, Daniel.

And, uh, I got some rest. Went in the next morning. Um, you guys put in the teeth. They were very uncomfortable, but again, I had just, it was there. My mouth is still sore. I just had all my teeth pulled. So I expected that. Um, so you're going to go through, you know, the soreness, all of it, like you said, bruising, probably. Um, it wasn't. And then I did, when you put that, that set in with the big, larger gong, I'm not going to lie. I thought to myself in the hotel room, I said, did I make the right decision? Yeah. Like I was like, does my gum need to be that big now?

Like I was confused. And then I'm thinking maybe there's a science behind this. Um, but then I went in the next day and they, she put this in and amazing. It's like perfect. So it's just, I can't thank you guys enough. It's a good perspective though, because, there are going to be moments of that when you're in private and you are wondering, did I make a decision, the right decision? And I would probably guess that every single person over every single center, no matter how good the experience of the surgery or how many recommendations they had or how much research they did, I would guess that every single person has a moment of doubt at least.

I agree. So, um, it's good that you can share that and we can, we can, we can talk about it because it's natural because you're, you don't have somebody there to reassure you. You're there alone in private and you are going to naturally look back and say, Ooh, did I do the right thing? And what that sort of draws out a little bit is sort of the shortcomings that we found with doing a 24 hour final, what we used to do, um, and what we have the machinery for now, we can get you a final on the same day of surgery. It's not a problem of machinery. Um, it has to involve you and what we would have done in the past. Um, if there were things that just weren't quite perfect, you know, maybe we would have gotten say a better first result from the way we would do a 24 hour final, but even still what I would do to get you into being happy would compromise your teeth. I would, I would use my tricks of how to make it seem like you had what you wanted and get that bite.

adjusted, but I would be compromising those teeth. And it's not that you can't adjust a finished product. You can't, you can adjust a zirconia safely. We just don't want it to get mutilated. We want the vast majority of that file to be what is your teeth, what the representation of what is your teeth. And so, um, those little tweaks are why we extend and protract that, that care is you can feel the, the love and feel the comfort of it, but also see those results directly on that file.

Yes. And I will say it on my part, it is ignorance because I did not know, you know, I'm making assumptions. I didn't go to school and study. I do not have the knowledge that you guys have. I do. I don't, you know, I'm not going to pretend to know about something that I have. I absolutely do not know. But, um, no, I will say that, you know, that is a natural thought, I think for somebody to have, but it's, you're in great hands. Like, you guys go above and beyond the way you guys can tweak it. And, and I don't know the lingo she was saying. She's like this, this, this, this. I don't know if I do. I don't think I do either.

And I was, I told her yesterday, I was like, you're like a scientist, like absolutely amazing. She knows, she knows she's on point. I mean, perfect. Perfect. Absolutely amazing. So that was ignorance on my end. Not ignorance. Just, um, you don't know what you don't know. And that's just natural. To, to say the same thing, you know, we buy a new car and you don't know something. You're like, Ooh, did I make the right choice? You know, I didn't know those tires would have to be replaced at 6,500 miles or whatever. Um, so it's just natural to have that sort of doubt. You want to make the best decision. And that's, I would say, I would argue that, that, that, that doubt is healthy because it's you saying, I really want to make the right decision. Um, which is cool.

What's, what's next. What's after this. So after this, I am going to fly back to Virginia tomorrow. I am working with my mother's real estate agent and I am going to buy a condo back down in Southwest. Okay. Welcome back. So thank you. Thank you. I'm very, very excited. And then, um, uh, go back to school. Perfect. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. I'm excited. My finally can take my life back. I felt like an, I was, um, in a nursing home, you know, through the accident and everything. And I went through the depression.

I mean, it was just, I wouldn't put it, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. And the anesthesia, the healing time it takes not being able to, oh, God bless. Yeah. God bless. But it's over and I'm so excited to move on and move forward. Such a blessing. As I understand it, this was a birthday gift to yourself. Is that correct? I was just going to say that. Yes, it is. My birthday gift. It's June 28th. Okay. 33 years old. Getting up there.

You did it right. You did it right though. You're going to have your teeth for your birthday. Yes, indeed. And you can eat birthday cake on a soft diet. And you can eat birthday cake on a soft diet.

Part 642:34

You said you had your first, first kind of real meal today. So let's talk about that a little bit too. You said you had some Mac and cheese. Yes. Well, no, it was last night. So I had Wawa Mac and cheese. Cause you can eat noodle by noodle and just like slurp. And then, but I wanted something, I was like, I want to want on soup. Right? I love Chinese, Chinese food. Okay. So, but I ordered the wonton soup and I couldn't even chew the wonton. And I was like, what the heck I know it was like, again, it's the first time I had food since.

And it's, it's a big adjustment, so I'm not even worried about it. Everything takes time. Rome was not built in a day. So I think even just. Just in your just talking in this, which is going to this is going to take a lot out of you, by the way. You can go back to the hotel and take a nap. But just in the time that you've been here, your speech has actually been sort of improving. I think so, too.

And I think it's because you did come down alone. So I don't know how much talking you've done since you've been here outside of the office itself. I don't know what phone calls or practicing you've done privately. But I actually agree. I agree. I think the last like 30 minutes or so, you've been more comfortable. Yeah, I am. So you could scream at the top of my lungs. I'm so happy. It's such a great feeling. Like I even mentioned to Daniel on the ride here when I was 21, I had Bell's palsy.

I went with my sister, came down to visit and we went out to Bowman's Beach on Sanibel. I went swimming on the ocean like I always do. Laying on top of the water, floating there. The next day I woke up and I walked out of my room and the whole left side of my face was paralyzed. My mom thought I had a mini stroke. So we went to the emergency room. The doctor said no. It was red tide.

So bacteria had gone into my ear and shut down my nervous system. Wow. For three months. And I was still going to the gym, always been active. I had to tape my eyes. I would go at night because it was 24 hours and I didn't want people seeing me. I was embarrassed. And I would tape my eyes shut so sweat wouldn't get in there. And I would do my own physical therapy, pushing my lip up. But you do not realize the gift of being able to look in the mirror and smile back at yourself.

▶Because for three months I would look in the mirror and try to smile with still nice teeth at 21. And I couldn't. I couldn't. Wow. So I've had my eye surgery. I've had my own experiences, my own journeys. You know, we all have. Life is life. We all have our issues. But this is a gift, a beautiful gift. So thank you. That's awesome. I'm excited for you. Thank you so much. What are you looking forward to the most after your 90-day soft food diet is complete?

Part 745:37

Pizza. Pizza. I love. I love. Or tacos. Or tacos. That's a big one. I love cheese pizza. Me too. I love. And if I just cheese pizza. Yeah. Like aspie cheese. I just. It's so good. I agree. It's a classic. My number one favorite food. I eat like a five-year-old. I love pizza. Yes. Nuggets. Oh, me too. Anything. Me too. I'll eat anything. You know, I'll eat refined food. No problem. Not a picky eater. But if you let me decide.

Pizza rolls. Pizza. Yum. I can't do pizza rolls. No? No. I will. I will splurge because I do like to eat healthy. Really, I do. But pizza, like I will splurge on that. Yes, I will. Pizza rolls might clarify, might qualify for the self-food diet if you make them in the microwave. They potentially could. Maybe not the air fryer. Not the air fryer, but the microwave. Yeah, they're not the healthiest, but they're just something that brings you back to childhood.

Same thing with a party pizza. Yeah, a Klondike bar. Yeah, my mom says that all the time. It's about lunchtime. I'm like, y'all had those back then? I didn't even know. Yeah. Cool. Well, I'm excited for you. I am looking forward to tomorrow. We're going to miss you when you're gone. I know that for sure. ▶But I'm glad you're coming back down to Florida. So we know that we'll see you once a year for your cleanings. Oh, yeah.

A hundred percent. Cool. Maybe you'll check out our Tampa location as well, too. Oh, yeah. It'll be close. I do not mind traveling. And if I, I feel comfortable with you guys. And once I feel comfortable with some, you know, I get. We get that a lot. Yeah. So I would travel to come. And see you guys. No. Well, you're always welcome to go to any location you want. But we definitely like it when our when we like to hear that a little bit.

Kind of blows our head up. No, you guys deserve it. Part of bringing the subscription on board and making it be where you're essentially paying for your cleaning, we'll call it, really has changed the dynamic because part the part. The reason why all of us are here is to provide smiles and happiness. And if you. If you only see that during the week of surgery and the shame that kind of is in the very beginning and you see maybe a half of a day glimpse into it, a lot of patients in Full Arch sort of disappear and a lot of Full Arch centers sort of dissuade their participants, their patients from ever coming back by hiking up the cleaning fees, etc.

There's a lot of sneaky ways that they push them out. But for me, that would be missing the life of your practice from the. Happiness standpoint, that's what you did all of this for. That's what you did all of this for. So it's been really fun hammering in creating that hygiene recall because my first, I don't know, seven, we'll call it seven years in Full Arch stuff was all just assumed that they maybe they come in for the first cleaning.

Yeah, they're happy. But then they just kind of disappear. And that may be what the patient. Wants because they want something that's like set it and forget it. But like anything in the world, it needs some maintenance and needs a look. And so you're missing a whole part of that if you don't create that program. So creating that program has been to sort of lure you in. So we still get our little dopamine hit that you're happy and all of that.

But it also makes you feel comfortable as a patient to knowing that I'm I can come back to you guys if I ever need anything. Of course. It's a small payment each month. It can be. It's affordable. It can happen. It can be made. ▶And your teeth are very important, especially after the surgery. You really want to make sure like I'm not going to like I'm going to be on top of my teeth like never before. I'm sure.

So it's. Yeah. I have one last question before we go. I've been wondering this whole time.

Part 849:36

What color do you know what shade you went with? The L2. Okay. The L2. I don't remember. It's in the BL family. Yeah. So it'll be significantly whiter than those. Yeah. She told me that she said you can always go. We can always dull them down, but we can't. And I told her, honestly, I take I would take your opinion over mine because, again, I do not have the knowledge you guys have. And then if you guys, you know, as a female skin tone, your complexion, hair color, all of that.

So factor that in. You want to ask a woman. No offense. No offense. No. Don't ask me. But she she definitely led me in the right direction. And she said, I think this would be beautiful on you. And when we checked him out, I was like, yeah, let's do it. I agree. Very few people regret their color choice. I just was wondering as we went through this. Yeah. What the final color is, because that's the one thing that we're a little bit limited on.

We could do it, but it would require a lot of finesse to make the parts. And pieces switchable. It's actually goop that goes in the printer. You'd have to be able to switch that out minute by minute. And it's just not feasible from like a practicality standpoint. So that's why you're kind of stuck in that sort of average looking normal kind of white color, if you will. ▶So but it's always a fun part of which one did you pick?

Honestly, I thought these were zirconium. Like she told me, she's like, those are acrylic. I was like, what? I would have never known the difference. Yeah. They're going to feel so good. Oh, you will tomorrow. Oh, boy. I'm so excited. It's like an ice skating rink versus a dirt patch. Yeah. I mean, totally different. You're going to your mind might explode. You're going to get the growth in the atrophied portion. That would be wonderful. Yeah. Well, it's been wonderful to get to know you.

And we really appreciate you coming down, especially on the week of your surgery when you're not at 100 percent. You look like you're 100 percent. You sound like you're 100 percent, but we know it's a little bit of a fight. So we really appreciate you making the effort. You're very welcome. And I appreciate you for all of your help and the whole process, everything. Thank you. Very, very welcome. Yeah. It's been a lot of fun. It has.

And you guys are so wonderful, so kind. Thank you. Well, thank you for joining us today. And everybody who is listening, like, subscribe, share, comment. And we look forward to the next episode. Thank you. Thank you.