TLDR: Sonny needs extensive dental work that is far beyond the scope of our financial ability.
The Backstory:
As many know, Sonny previously suffered from sleep apnea and had his tonsils and adenoids removed last year to help the issue. While he no longer randomly stops breathing at night, he still struggles with mouth-breathing that has led to a host of dental issues. Saliva protects our teeth from external germs and bacteria; so when that saliva is dried out all night, the results can be swift and drastic. Cavities form, often hiding between teeth and making them difficult to spot until significantly progressed. This is the case for Sonny.
One day, Sonny was eating something hard and I heard a crack. I was shocked to see that a large portion of a molar had broken off to reveal a significant cavity underneath. This caught me completely off guard since both kids brush their teeth regularly and have a normal diet in terms of sugar - plus, Lainey has NEVER had a cavity and still doesn't. The dentist confirmed that Sonny's issues are almost certainly due to his continual nighttime mouth-breathing (which we plan to address with his ENT) and that we need to figure out a plan of action quickly to avoid damaging his adult teeth. He will need that 1 molar extracted, a spacer put in until the adult tooth comes in (around 10 years old), and several fillings and/or caps on others.
Due to his age, Sonny will have to be put under general anesthesia for the entire procedure. Sadly, this sort of dental work isn't done at a regular hospital where pediatric anesthesiologists are readily available. Pediatric dentists either have a contract with one or refer children to somewhere that does. After spending the past 2 months going back and forth with insurance and scouring the Austin area for a pediatric dentist who both accepts our insurance and provides GA, I have come up completely empty-handed.
It is imperative that Sonny receives this treatment as quickly as possible. We can no longer wait to find an affordable option, forcing us to schedule his procedure at an out-of-pocket facility. (We chose this facility because, after paying for consultations at 3 other offices, we simply had to make a choice, and this office was kind enough to provide free x-rays due to our insurance situation.) While they do not offer their own payment plan, they do accept Affirm (pay in 4) for the dental procedure portion of the bill (roughly half). The other half goes to the anesthesiologist and is due before the procedure. Insurance will not cover any of the cost, leaving us responsible for the entire bill.
The Ask:
The quote we received for 1 extraction, 4 caps, 4 fillings, and general anesthesia is roughly $4,000. The amount may vary up to an additional $1,000-$1,400 if the procedure takes longer than expected and/or they discover the need for all caps instead of some fillings ($600 per 30 minutes of anesthesia; $200 per cap). Given the circumstances, this procedure is likely to cost around $5,000 completely out-of-pocket.
Unfortunately, putting this expense on a credit card isn't an option. Both our cars broke down last summer and then we ended up owing thousands in income tax this year, leaving our credit situation precarious at best.
This is the part where, despite my borderline phobic aversion to asking for help, we do just that. Please donate if you can. And if you can't, send vibes of prosperity and good health our way. Literally anything helps. ❤️ Sonny's surgery is scheduled for July 1.
Thank you for anything and everything,
Brittany
