After Having All Her Teeth Pulled Out At 20, Woman Shares “Before/After” Implants Transformation
A woman named Cheyenne Chalai has documented her process of getting “new teeth,” a transformation she had been looking forward to since her dentist suggested she get all of her teeth extracted when she was in her twenties.
The TikToker, now 31, shared that the decision to get her teeth pulled out was made 11 years ago.
“At 20 years old, I had to get dentures because I couldn’t afford the dental work I needed to get done,” Cheyenne told her nearly 640,000 followers on the social media platform. “I was too young at the time and thought my dentist knew best, so I trusted him and let him pull all of my teeth out.”
Cheyenne Chalai underwent a significant transformation at the age of 20 when she had all of her teeth extracted
Image credits: cheyssmilejourney
“Now, after 11 years, at 31 years old, my dentist said I’ve had so much bone loss that my jaw bone looks like I’m 80 years old,” she explained.
“I’ve had such rapid bone loss just in the past three months that my dentures barely fit anymore, so it is painful to eat, talk, or even have my teeth in.”
Once the teeth are removed, the roots are no longer present. As a result, the jawbone lacks stimulation, making the supporting bone deteriorate over time, according to the Texas Implant and Dental Center.
When bones become atrophied, the denture does not have much to grab hold of. This results in a denture that moves around more easily and has less support and suction.
In contrast to dentures, implants can last decades, and they allow the bone to continue to grow.
However, implants aren’t exactly inexpensive: to avoid the pain and discomfort, Cheyenne had to pay $33,000 for her new teeth.
Eleven years ago, due to decay resulting from using braces, a dentist recommended that Cheyenne Chalai have all her teeth pulled out
@cheyssmilejourney Replying to @sandman..69 yall wanted a story time, here it is condensed into one minute. Check out the pinned video in my profile to see the full story! #denturesatayoungage #cheyssmilejourney #toothlessbabe #storytime #howilostmyteeth ♬ original sound – Chey 🦋
She recently shared her journey of receiving dental implants
Image credits: cheyssmilejourney
Image credits: cheyssmilejourney
Fortunately, she was able to undergo the procedure with the help of thousands of Internet users.
The 31-year-old, whose problems with her teeth began after she got braces, set up a fundraiser, explaining that if “only 1,600 people donated $20,” she’d have her dental implants.
“I’m so ready to be comfortable with my smile and be able to eat, talk, laugh and LIVE comfortably,” Cheyenne said.
Many people complimented Cheyenne on her new smile
@cheyssmilejourney Getting my final set of teeth 🥰 btw I meant to share this back in December when my finals were put in but its been sitting in my drafts 😅 truly grateful for @SmartArches ™ and how close they worked with me to make sure I absolutely loved my forever teeth, feeling so very blessed! 💗#CapCut #dentalimplants #allonx #cheyssmilejourney #newsmile ♬ Awaken – Big Wild
Image credits: cheyssmilejourney
On February 26, she posted a video showing the “before and after” of her smile, writing, “Getting my final set of teeth. I meant to share this back in December when my finals were put in but it’s been sitting in my drafts.”
She continued by thanking the dental implants clinic for “making sure [she] absolutely loved [her] forever teeth.”
People quickly took to the comments to congratulate Cheyenne for her new pearly whites.
“I’m so glad you can regain that confidence of smiling,” a TikTok user wrote.
“Damn… I’m in dental, and those are some damn good implant support dentures,” another person commented, while another agreed, “I worked in dental for 13 years, and I’ve never seen implants look this good!”
A fourth person penned, “They look so amazing and natural! So happy for you.”
The procedure “has truly brought [her] confidence to a whole new level,” the 31-year-old explained
@cheyssmilejourney I GOT MY FINALS!!! 😍 I couldn’t have done this without the amazing team at @SmartArches ™ who have literally changed my life 🥹🙏🏼 #newsmile #dentalimplants #allonx #zirconia #dentalimplantssurgery ♬ The Good Part – AJR
Someone else pointed out the substantial cost of implants, which makes the procedure inaccessible to many individuals facing dental health issues. “I wish I could afford this. Insurance should 100% cover this, but dental insurance is a joke,” they wrote, to which Cheyenne replied, “You’re so right. It makes no sense why this isn’t covered by insurance!!! It should be considered medical because dental is absolutely medical-related!”
Responding to a compliment on her “stunning” smile, the TikToker said that undergoing the procedure “has truly brought [her] confidence to a whole new level.”
“This is probably the best set I’ve seen,” someone commented
Dental is not about aesthetics. It's about HEALTH. And it's not properly covered not only in the US, but in many countries. Heart problems, lung problems, bone problems, hearing problems... they can all stem from not having dental care.
Its especially important as you age. Proper mastication makes digestion easier, once your teeth start to go it gets harder and harder to chew and pass food properly. Coupled with a lack of fluid intake and you get bowl blockages.
Load More Replies...
I don't understand the disconnect in "medically necessary" prevalent in so many countries. Got heart problems? Arthritis? Broke your pinky toe? No problem, insurance or social healthcare will cover it. Rotten teeth, hearing loss, peeling retina? Sucks to be you. I have very bad teeth due to depression in my teens. I couldn't take care of myself properly, kept grinding my teeth and drank can after can of energy drinks to get through school so the enamel is practically dissolved. In a few years, I won't be able to afford the dentist anymore and the thought of that is terrifying! To enyone reading this: PLEASE take care of your teeth! Toothaches, root canals, and pulling teeth is escruciating and the damage is irreparable. If you can't brush your teeth, rinse your mouth after having something carbonated or sugared. I can't stress enough how much I regret and pain I have every day due to this. Please take care of yourself!
I have ADHD and habits are incredibly hard to develop. Some days cleaning my teeth is as simple as thinking "I'm going to clean my teeth" and next thing it's happening, other times it's "get up, go to the bathroom, pick up the toothbrush, turn on the tap, wet the toothbrush, turn off the tap, look for the toothpaste, pick up the toothpaste..." every single tiny action is a step that takes conscious thought and planning. And some days it doesn't even occur to me that cleaning my teeth is something I'm supposed to be doing. Getting ADHD medication has helped a lot in simply remembering to clean my teeth, and buying a slightly pricier pharmacy grade toothpaste has made a huge difference. I'm in my 30s and this year is the first in my life that I haven't required any dental work - before I was routinely getting 5 or 6 fillings a year.
Load More Replies...
My mom had an infection in her gums at age 20. She lost all her teeth, and wore dentures for 38 years. I think she would be thrilled to know the options that are available today!
I thought that too. The "before" is when her gross teeth were already gone. the story goes - No teeth to new teeth. Not rotted teeth to new teeth.
Load More Replies...
Good for her! I wonder how braces can do that. I had braces and luckily didn't have issues, but that worries me for the future if my kid needs them. What could you do to prevent something like that.
For the sake of my now further declining health, I wish I could have dental implants, as I also had to have a “dental clearance” when I was in my 20’s (my teeth had rotted due to chronic illness & meds that were eroding my teeth) & sadly, my palate is too flat for dentures. I also have complications that prevent me from eating healthier; my autism (some foods I just CAN’T eat, due to texture/taste, etcetera), no teeth to chew properly, trauma-induced dysphagia/impaired swallow, weaker stomach acid that makes digestion difficult, an ileostomy (large bowel removed) & when I try to eat too much food in liquid form, I suffer “the runs”. Because of all these things, it’s SO hard to eat fruit/veg (& it’s not like I’m not trying), unless they’re paper-thin or soft enough for babies. Sadly, my change in diet worsened my type 1 diabetes & is attacking my liver; now they’re saying I may have early signs of cirrhosis from the “non-alcoholic fatty liver” I was diagnosed with a couple years ago. 😢
I do WANT to eat better, because I really miss being able to eat fruit & veg I used to love (celery, pomegranate, pistachios, raw onion, apple-pears, cucumber, baby-corn, melon, etc). I often wonder if I’d be entitled to dental implants on the NHS, due to all the complications that are out of my control; as I legit can’t help it if my body can’t digest solid foods (I can’t even eat skinny fries without them coming out whole into my ostomy bag). Also, getting implants that would allow me to chew properly again might just save my life & undo the damage done to my liver. Unfortunately, the health service where I live has a poor track record where they deny life-saving treatment, even with death just a hair’s distance away (hence why I now have an ileostomy, due to them ignoring sepsis until it almost killed me) … so, they’ll likely turn me down the moment I ask; liver be damned. Unless I miraculously come up with the money to pay for it myself, I doubt I’ll ever get denied implants. 😔
Load More Replies...
*THIS IS FROM MY SISTER NOT ME* yeah got mine all took outwhen i was 18, im 36 i have no implants and no dentures, i have to eat soft food.... but i had to have mine took out due to a"medically necessary Infection from them to my brain".... my stuff covered the pulling but not so i could get teeth to eat after soooooo good for you for haveing money and people that think "pretty girls need teeth"
I think that if you visit Europe for a dental implant you can save a lot of money. Even with full paid services the average amount of money on it is about 6.000 to 10000 dollars into an average italian dentist. I don't know how much they charge for the work in Us. At the moment I am avoiding this thing with all myself because I fear the pain related to this work.
WOW!! I can't believe that this is still happening (full mouth removal) I'm Gen X and this is something I associate with my grandparents era. They were born 1910 - 1914 and, due to it being unaffordable to keep up with dental work they would often be given the 'gift' of full set removal on their 21st birthdays. But these days if you are unable to pay you get free dental and for those who can it is heavily subsidised and can be paid incrementally..
Where? Not in my neck of the woods, for sure. The only thing covered in the public health system are extractions. Not even fillings
Load More Replies... Dental is not about aesthetics. It's about HEALTH. And it's not properly covered not only in the US, but in many countries. Heart problems, lung problems, bone problems, hearing problems... they can all stem from not having dental care.
Its especially important as you age. Proper mastication makes digestion easier, once your teeth start to go it gets harder and harder to chew and pass food properly. Coupled with a lack of fluid intake and you get bowl blockages.
Load More Replies... I don't understand the disconnect in "medically necessary" prevalent in so many countries. Got heart problems? Arthritis? Broke your pinky toe? No problem, insurance or social healthcare will cover it. Rotten teeth, hearing loss, peeling retina? Sucks to be you. I have very bad teeth due to depression in my teens. I couldn't take care of myself properly, kept grinding my teeth and drank can after can of energy drinks to get through school so the enamel is practically dissolved. In a few years, I won't be able to afford the dentist anymore and the thought of that is terrifying! To enyone reading this: PLEASE take care of your teeth! Toothaches, root canals, and pulling teeth is escruciating and the damage is irreparable. If you can't brush your teeth, rinse your mouth after having something carbonated or sugared. I can't stress enough how much I regret and pain I have every day due to this. Please take care of yourself!
I have ADHD and habits are incredibly hard to develop. Some days cleaning my teeth is as simple as thinking "I'm going to clean my teeth" and next thing it's happening, other times it's "get up, go to the bathroom, pick up the toothbrush, turn on the tap, wet the toothbrush, turn off the tap, look for the toothpaste, pick up the toothpaste..." every single tiny action is a step that takes conscious thought and planning. And some days it doesn't even occur to me that cleaning my teeth is something I'm supposed to be doing. Getting ADHD medication has helped a lot in simply remembering to clean my teeth, and buying a slightly pricier pharmacy grade toothpaste has made a huge difference. I'm in my 30s and this year is the first in my life that I haven't required any dental work - before I was routinely getting 5 or 6 fillings a year.
Load More Replies... My mom had an infection in her gums at age 20. She lost all her teeth, and wore dentures for 38 years. I think she would be thrilled to know the options that are available today!
I thought that too. The "before" is when her gross teeth were already gone. the story goes - No teeth to new teeth. Not rotted teeth to new teeth.
Load More Replies... Good for her! I wonder how braces can do that. I had braces and luckily didn't have issues, but that worries me for the future if my kid needs them. What could you do to prevent something like that.
For the sake of my now further declining health, I wish I could have dental implants, as I also had to have a “dental clearance” when I was in my 20’s (my teeth had rotted due to chronic illness & meds that were eroding my teeth) & sadly, my palate is too flat for dentures. I also have complications that prevent me from eating healthier; my autism (some foods I just CAN’T eat, due to texture/taste, etcetera), no teeth to chew properly, trauma-induced dysphagia/impaired swallow, weaker stomach acid that makes digestion difficult, an ileostomy (large bowel removed) & when I try to eat too much food in liquid form, I suffer “the runs”. Because of all these things, it’s SO hard to eat fruit/veg (& it’s not like I’m not trying), unless they’re paper-thin or soft enough for babies. Sadly, my change in diet worsened my type 1 diabetes & is attacking my liver; now they’re saying I may have early signs of cirrhosis from the “non-alcoholic fatty liver” I was diagnosed with a couple years ago. 😢
I do WANT to eat better, because I really miss being able to eat fruit & veg I used to love (celery, pomegranate, pistachios, raw onion, apple-pears, cucumber, baby-corn, melon, etc). I often wonder if I’d be entitled to dental implants on the NHS, due to all the complications that are out of my control; as I legit can’t help it if my body can’t digest solid foods (I can’t even eat skinny fries without them coming out whole into my ostomy bag). Also, getting implants that would allow me to chew properly again might just save my life & undo the damage done to my liver. Unfortunately, the health service where I live has a poor track record where they deny life-saving treatment, even with death just a hair’s distance away (hence why I now have an ileostomy, due to them ignoring sepsis until it almost killed me) … so, they’ll likely turn me down the moment I ask; liver be damned. Unless I miraculously come up with the money to pay for it myself, I doubt I’ll ever get denied implants. 😔
Load More Replies... *THIS IS FROM MY SISTER NOT ME* yeah got mine all took outwhen i was 18, im 36 i have no implants and no dentures, i have to eat soft food.... but i had to have mine took out due to a"medically necessary Infection from them to my brain".... my stuff covered the pulling but not so i could get teeth to eat after soooooo good for you for haveing money and people that think "pretty girls need teeth"
I think that if you visit Europe for a dental implant you can save a lot of money. Even with full paid services the average amount of money on it is about 6.000 to 10000 dollars into an average italian dentist. I don't know how much they charge for the work in Us. At the moment I am avoiding this thing with all myself because I fear the pain related to this work.
WOW!! I can't believe that this is still happening (full mouth removal) I'm Gen X and this is something I associate with my grandparents era. They were born 1910 - 1914 and, due to it being unaffordable to keep up with dental work they would often be given the 'gift' of full set removal on their 21st birthdays. But these days if you are unable to pay you get free dental and for those who can it is heavily subsidised and can be paid incrementally..
Where? Not in my neck of the woods, for sure. The only thing covered in the public health system are extractions. Not even fillings
Load More Replies... 
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