It's hard to put into words what Apex Dental and Dr. Andy have done for my life, but I'll try. This isn't just a dental review -- this is the story of getting my confidence, my happiness, and my smile back after nearly two decades of hiding it.
Growing up, dental care simply wasn't an option for my family. We didn't have the means, and brushing my teeth was just something I was told to do, not something I understood. I had no real education around dental hygiene, and unfortunately, the consequences caught up with me. By the time I was 22, all of my back teeth had rotted out. Eighteen teeth -- gone. Top and bottom. I was left with only my front teeth, which were never meant to take on the job of chewing, so over time they wore down too. I didn't just lose teeth -- I lost my ability to smile, to eat normally, to speak without self-consciousness.
For the next 18 years, I avoided mirrors. I learned how to talk while hiding my teeth. I trained myself to laugh without really smiling -- which is soul-crushing when you're someone who naturally finds joy in things. I suppressed so much of my personality because I was embarrassed. Imagine being a happy person who's afraid to smile. That was me.
When I finally reached a point in life where I could start thinking about a full mouth restoration, I thought it would be a straightforward process. You go in, they fix you up, and you move on. But that wasn't the case at all. I visited 11 different dental offices, and every single one gave me a different plan. Some quotes were as high as $86,000. But worse than the price was the feeling I had walking out of those places. It felt transactional. Like I was just another expensive project, not a human being who had lived with pain and embarrassment for nearly two decades.
Then I found Apex Dental -- and everything changed.
From the moment I stepped into their office, I felt something different. The space was clean, modern, and welcoming. The staff greeted me like a person, not a paycheck. They asked questions that weren't just clinical -- they wanted to understand what I had been through and where I wanted to go. They listened. And then I met Dr. Andy.
Dr. Andy is the kind of person who makes you feel like you matter. He didn't rush me. He didn't pitch me a cookie-cutter solution. Instead, he designed a treatment plan that worked not only for my dental needs but for my timeline, my financial reality, and my emotional readiness. We broke the process into manageable phases. He educated me every step of the way. Every decision was made together. Every appointment moved me closer to the life I had been dreaming of.
The process took 18 months -- and I'm grateful for every minute of it. There were extractions, implants, temporary prosthetics, bone grafts, deep cleanings, crowns, and fittings. It was intense. It was emotional. And it was absolutely worth it. The entire Apex Dental team -- from the front desk to the hygienists -- treated me with kindness, professionalism, and real empathy. They celebrated milestones with me. They saw me through every discomfort and every moment of self-doubt.
Now, for the first time in 18 years, I have a full mouth of teeth. I can smile. A real, genuine, ear-to-ear, joyful smile. I can eat normally again. I can look in the mirror without shame. I can speak with confidence. And maybe most importantly: I'll be able to smile proudly at my daughter's wedding and my son's graduation. I won't have to hide anymore.
What Apex Dental gave me wasn't just a smile -- it was a second chance at life. If you're someone who has lost hope, who has felt ashamed of your teeth, who has been overwhelmed by cost or fear or past trauma -- please know that healing is possible. And Apex Dental is the place to start.
Dr. Andy, thank you. Thank you for your care, your vision, and your heart. You didn't just restore my teeth. You restored me. read more