A woman who was born with almost completely transparent teeth and cruelly dubbed “shark tooth” has revealed she had dentures at the age of 19 – and says it is the best thing she has ever done.
Mihaley Olivia Grace Schlegel, 19, from Claremore, Oklahoma, US, had issues with her teeth as soon as they started to come in as a child, partly due to being born with brittle bone disease.
“From the point I started getting teeth they were so brittle, they were almost completely see through,” Mihaley, a retail assistant, told NeedToKnow.online.
Despite hopes they would grow stronger, her teeth weakened over time to the point where she struggled to eat properly.
She was also cruelly called “shark tooth” thanks to their strange look.
Mihaley said: “It got to a point where I was struggling to eat basic things like bread at around 15 years old.
“People would make a nasty face if I were to smile, they’d try to play if off sometimes, but it became more noticeable as I got older.
“I tried so hard to love my teeth because I knew how expensive it was to get them done. “I stopped smiling, laughing, and even eating due to the pain.”
By the time she was 13, the idea of dentures was brought up, but Mihaley was so scared of what her future would be like if she were to get them.
She brushed it off, but due to increasing pain started to look for a dentist to take on the case a year later. It took five years before an orthodontist agreed to take on the complex case.
She said: “Due to me also having brittle bone disease, known as osteogenesis imperfecta, doctors feared breaking my jaw.
“I’ve had 117 broken bones, 36 surgeries and multiple placements/replacements for rods in both tibias and femurs.
“I’ve had screw replacements in my knees and ankles, small procedures due to my broken back, and multiple bone grafts.
“It was a scary time, but I am beyond blessed to have found such an amazing team at Aspen dental to take on my condition.”
Mihaley had Oral MaxiFacial reconstructive surgery on 8 December 2021, when she was just 19.
She said: “When I woke up from surgery I just kept laughing and crying because I was so shocked it finally happened.
“It was like a dream come true.”
The surgery before insurance was $12,000 and $9,500 after insurance.
Mihaley said: “Thankfully my parents graciously helped with making payments, as well as me taking $500 out of college savings.”
Luckily, it was worth it as the teenager has loved her teeth ever since her procedure and is extremely happy with her new grin.
She said: “There has been a big change in reactions from people especially. People don’t make gross faces when I smile, or ask me what’s wrong with my teeth.
“New teeth have benefited me in many ways. I can eat things that couldn’t before and I can finally feel beautiful when I smile.”
Mihaley is now set to have further procedures – including a surgery adding 2-4 implants in her bottom jaw so her dentures can clip in and a laser procedure around the tissue so she can put the implants in at ease.
