Before And After Dental Implants: Meet Sara

Sara is as big-hearted as you can get. With a calling and talent to serve others, Sara found purpose volunteering at orphanages across the world, especially in India.

Unfortunately, Sara also had struggles with mental health. A combination of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders had ravaged her body. As a result, her oral health took a severe hit, with gum disease and decay eating away at her teeth and gums.

With the help of her family and mental health professionals, Sara was gaining control over her illness, but her mouth no longer reflected her inner light.

Let’s break her problem down:

Who: Sara

Problem: Illness had destroyed her oral health, and even as her physical health was improving, her smile did not reflect the change.

Solution: Fixed implant supported bridges from North County Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in Vista, CA

Did it work? Absolutely! Sara’s smile is beautiful and bright, and her health has improved so much that she’s back in India, helping the children she cares so deeply about.

Here’s Dr. Henninger talking about how NCCID helped Sara:

“Talk about a touching transformation. Sara was just 32 years old when she saw us on The Wellness Hour and wondered if we could help her. She first came to me weighing less than 90 pounds. She struggled with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Her family was terrified that they were going to lose her."

Unfortunately, eating disorders can have a big effect on oral health. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, problems with teeth and gums are often the first sign of an eating disorder. Because of a lack of nutrition and essential vitamins that keep teeth strong, people with eating disorders are more likely to have their teeth decay and lose strength, even to the point of becoming brittle and breaking easily. The same lack of nutrients and dehydration can make gums swell, bleed, and get infected. If left too long, it can cause irreparable damage on teeth, gums, and bone.

Luckily, Sara had a great team on her side, including therapists, doctors, her family, and Dr. Henninger.

"Sara went to therapy, worked through her mental trauma, and had an amazing family who helped her through all of this. She and I worked closely through this process to make sure she was staying healthy and on track with her mental health. We completed fixed implant supported bridges and she has since gained weight and is on the track of healing.

"She is now living in India working with underprivileged kids and is doing so well. At her last check up cleaning before she left, her transformation was incredible. It was so rewarding to see her doing so well, ready to help others with their own mental health."