I worked 21 years as a Nursing assistant and home health aide, working in various nursing homes in the Denver metro area with a nursing pool. I’ve worked home hospice care. At one point, I spent eight straight years working with a Quadriplegic gentleman.
After completing care for one patient, I found it was really difficult to get work. Despite my best efforts, no full time work would come my way, so I had to apply for Medicaid. The program ended up changing my life, and in particular, my teeth.
Because I had no regular access to dental care through the years, I developed severe gum and teeth problems. I regularly had to get treatment on my teeth, and often had to have teeth pulled. Because I was always uninsured, I had to pay for that care out of pocket, and it wasn’t cheap. At times, it felt like all the money I earned was getting spent on dental care. Once I lost all my teeth, I knew I could benefit from dentures, but I figured I wouldn’t be able to afford them.
Once I got covered through Medicaid, I found a great dentist that took Medicaid patients and acquired a full set of dentures. Getting dentures was easier than I could have ever imagined. I had gone the previous 10 years of my life without teeth. I thought I would have to live that way forever. Believe it or not, I had forgotten what it felt like to be able to chew my food. Having teeth again means I can eat better, which will help me stay healthier overall. I couldn’t be more thankful for my dental care. A special word for Collis Johnson Jr. DDS and Denver Health, they are great.
– James Castle, Denver
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