Michelle McDaniel acknowledges she was “in a bad place” when she contacted Academy of Osseointegration (AO) member Dr. William V. Argo, Jr. in his Macon, GA office in November 2017. Then 40, divorced and suffering the effects of severe migraine headaches, Michelle and her daughter had moved in with her father and stepmother in Tifton, GA, a country town about 100 miles south of Macon.

Ms. McDaniel had suffered from severe migraine headaches for nearly 30 years. They had worsened after her mother’s death in 2007 and her divorce in 2013. Her physician in Tifton, Cynthia L. Sumner, MD, said disabling conditions including the migraines, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and anxiety disorder, limited her ability to work to only three half-days a week. Previous doctors had treated the migraines with increasing doses of opiates until she could no longer function normally. She then had to quit her job and went through acute opiate withdrawal psychosis.

When she came to Dr. Argo’s office, Ms. McDaniel had no healthcare benefits and many problems with her teeth. Dr. Argo found her to be “very shy, self-conscious of her teeth, and suffering pain on and off with infections that triggered more migraines. She could only eat soft food.” He concluded that her severe dental problems could be worsening the migraines. During Ms. McDaniel’s consultation with Dr. Argo, she asked him if he would be willing to apply for an Osseointegration Foundation (OF) charitable grant to “get her teeth fixed.”

“Michelle had struggled with her many medical issues and was in the midst of a ‘low time’ in her life,” Dr. Argo adds. “After talking with her and understanding her story, I knew that I wanted to do what I could to help a very sweet lady regain her self-esteem and move forward with the plan she had for her life.”

He contacted the Academy of Osseointegration for guidance on how to submit the application for an OF grant. After reviewing the dental and medical documentation that was required with the grant application, the grant was approved and restorative dentist Dr. Amber P. Lawson, was added to the team of professionals who treated Michelle. Also brought to the team was Casey Martin, a representative from Nobel Biocare, a leading manufacturer of dental implant equipment, as well as dental lab technician Glen Haskins.

Michelle’s treatment plan consisted of four implants that were placed following preliminary periodontal therapy to prepare the mouth for the introduction of implant devices into the jaw bone and surrounding gum tissues. The final implant restoration was completed in November 2018 with an approximate cost of $9,000 that was covered by the OF Charitable Grant and other donations.

Michelle was delighted with the outcome, as she explained in a letter of thanks to the Academy of Osseointegration and Drs. Argo and Lawson.

“The difference the implants have made in my life is so awesome. I started dating again. I work at two non-profits in my town. I’m now back in college too and even made an ‘A’ last quarter. I just can’t wait to see what the future holds. It’s just wonderful to live and love and chew gum again.”

In a subsequent letter to Dr. Argo in July 2019, Michelle reported that her doctor had cleared her to go back to full-time work and she had begun her search for employment with a new confidence.

“Things are getting better for me every day, and I can’t say thank you enough,” she wrote. “You really helped me get out of a bad place and start moving forward.”