Patient Stories
Shantel’s Story
Two years ago, Shantel McCarrol had learned a different kind of smile.
“I had a car wreck that knocked out all my bottom teeth in front. I couldn’t
afford to get them fixed so I learned how to smile without showing them. Some
people said they couldn’t tell, but I knew.”
Shantel was working at Belmont University when she saw a story on Interfaith
Dental Clinic in the news and attended an application workshop. “When
Shantel came to us, she was missing her lower front teeth and a top front
tooth,” says Dr. Susan Scanga, an Interfaith staff dentist. “She also had
a gold tooth and there was decay in almost every other tooth.”
Over the next two years the clinic repaired Shantel’s remaining teeth, made her
a bridge for her top teeth and a partial for her lower ones. The same work
in a private practice dental office would have cost more than $3,000.
Through Interfaith’s sliding fee program, Shantel paid less than $700. She
couldn’t be more pleased.
“It has improved my eating a lot and now I have a beautiful smile.”
Shantel is currently getting her GED at Cohn’s Adult Center and is enrolled in
computer classes. “I really want to get a desk job, something like a
secretary.”
Shantel says that Interfaith has made such a difference she will be spreading
the word. “I know for sure I will be referring other people I know here
that need help.”
As Nickye puts it, “I have so much more confidence now. I look forward to
talking to customers. Everybody at work loves my teeth. And the best
thing is that I can laugh more. I love to laugh.”