Have you ever had that nightmare where all of your teeth start crumbling and falling out of your mouth? That horror is a reality for Dannika White. Dannika was born with the genetic disorder, Amelogensis Imperfecta (AI). AI causes abnormal enamel formation, and can have varying degrees of affect on those afflicted with it. Unfortunately Dannika has a very severe form of this disorder. She has had 12 surgeries since her infancy, simply to maintain a low level of oral function. These oral surgeries and dentistry are no longer maintaining her fragile teeth. Her teeth are cracking and breaking into shards. They have incurred dangerous infections that threaten her life. She can longer chew food, and is in constant, debilitating pain.
Dannika needs oral surgery immediately. She needs to have all of her teeth removed, her infections treated, her bones seeded to prevent collapse, and dentures implanted. Because amelogenesis imperfecta is such a rare genetic disorder, very few oral surgeons have experience in treating it. Dannika has found an experienced oral surgeon, Dr. Gregory Oxford, in St. Augustine, who has developed a treatment plan for her. Though Dr. Oxford has generously discounted his work, the first phase of the treatment has a cost of nearly $7,000.
Dannika is a high school student. She does not qualify for health insurance, Medicaid is not accepted by the Oxford Dental Group, and she has been turned down for lines of credit. She is in desperate need of these surgeries, but has no way to pay for it. Family and friends have organized the Dannika White Fund to help her raise the money she needs to get started. Donations to the fund are gratefully accepted at all Putnam State Bank locations, the Paypal Donate button to the right of this post, as well as through the http://www.modestneeds.org/ application ID #150838. The Fund is also raising money through its auctions at its Ebay Store, http://tinyurl.com/2ex2zhb .
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