Patient Stories
Helen’s Story
A severe toothache forced Helen VanWhy into a dentist office last summer. The entire side of her face was swollen from a severe infection.
Helen had a bad experience at the dentist office in years past and she was “deathly afraid” to return.
The Dr. removed her infected tooth, assessed Helen for further treatment and provided her with an estimate to have her mouth restored.
Helen needed 31 teeth extracted, 12 by an oral surgeon, and full upper and lower dentures. The estimate she received
was considerably beyond her financial means. One of Helen’s friends spoke to her dentist about Helen’s situation and he referred her to the Interfaith Dental Clinic.
On Helen’s first visit to Interfaith she found a familiar face, Dr. Laura Pierce.
Helen had worked in the lunch room of Dr. Pierce’s high school and the two immediately reconnected.
Helen recalls, “I knew when I saw her face that she would not let anything happen to me. &nsbp; The fear just went away.”
Helen sailed through her surgery, had her dentures made and is now she is flashing a beautiful smile.
Helen had not smiled for a long time. “ It has changed me as a person. I find myself smiling more than I ever have.
I would have never been able to have my work done without Interfaith.”
“I needed to do something for myself!”