The A.P.P.E.A.R. Program
All GrinGrant.org dental restoration are REQUIRED to participate in our A.P.P.E.A.R. alumni-led therapeutic support and mentorship program:
A. Anticipation
P. Patience
P. Planning For Discomfort
E. Expectations
A. Actualization Of Self
R. Resocialization
A.P.P.E.A.R. program services include:
-
Specialized online group meetings
-
24/7 online group chat
-
Restoration case management
-
Client advocacy and accompaniment to dental appointments
-
Dozens of participating clientele and alumni in the GrinGrant.org program
Your Recovery Comes First!
Addiction-related oral damage is well known to be a major detractor for mental health, personal/familial relationships, and earning one's potential. In addition to pain and chronic infection, the acute shame, self directed anger, harsh judgement, and a social stigma a sufferer experienced is simply profound.
What is lesser known is that the dental restoration to remedy this problem often involves extremely intense, prolonged, and overwhelming emotions - both positive and negative.
For these reasons, the selection process heavily focuses on the recovery capital of our applicants and their demonstrated dedication to long term recovery values and community.
YOU MUST HAVE A SPONSOR TO APPLY TO GRINGRANT.ORG.
Grin Grant Is A Long Term Commitment
While six months of continuous recovery are required for entry into our program, 1 YEAR of participation and high engagement in Grin Grant is required to receive actual implant procedures.
Why Is This?
For Implant dentistry to be successful, strict adherence to specific directions and guidelines are required by the patient before, during, and after procedures.
The year-long wait time is an excellent opportunity for a new Grin Granter to demonstrate their ability and willingness to follow directions, maintain their recovery, and taking part in the Grin Grant therapeutic alliance.
Comprehensive drug tests are given on a random basis, one of these tests is specifically for any type of smoking (vaping is acceptable, smoking is not).
Evaluative Study
In 2021, Fletcher Group, an esteemed association known for recovery related research and housing, began a 3- year evaluative study of the GrinGrant.org A.P.P.E.A.R. Program to document and measure the A.P.P.E.A.R.'s effectiveness for individuals in recovery undergoing a dental restoration.
The results were extremely positive, including participant reviews and analytical results. Documented in the report was a systemic decrease in all areas of anxiety, including dental anxiety and social anxiety amongst participants.
The Reality About Dentures
Traditional dentures do not stimulate the jawbone the way natural teeth or implants do, and without that stimulation, the bone begins to shrink.
-
Bone loss starts immediately after tooth extraction — about 25% of width lost in the first year and continuing at a steady pace afterward.
-
Dentures rest on the gums, but it’s the underlying jawbone ridge that actually gives them stability.
-
Advanced bone loss will severely limit one's diet to only very soft foods.
-
When the bone resorbs (shrinks), there’s nothing for the denture to “sit” on, so it slips, rocks, or won’t stay in place even with adhesive.
-
Bone loss causes facial collapse — the lower face appears sunken, the chin juts forward, and wrinkles deepen around the mouth.
Implants act like artificial tooth roots, stimulating the jawbone and slowing or stopping the bone loss process.
To Apply
Grin Grant scholarships are awarded based on merit, which includes the applicant's demonstrated recovery values and principles, as well as their active participation in a recognized recovery program, good citizenry, and service in the recovery community.
STEP 1
Review our website FULLY.
STEP 3
Provide letters of recommendation from your employer or manager, AND someone that knows you well in the recovery community.
STEP 4
Write us a handwritten letter describing the condition of your teeth and how a restored smile would change your life.
Mail To:
Grin Grant Inc.
628 North Broadway
Suite 302
Lexington, KY 40508
We do Recover!
A.P.P.E.A.R. PROGRAM TESTIMONIALS
"My anxiety and fear has prevented me from fixing my smile in the past or giving up in the middle of the process. Through the support of all the Grin Grant members as well as their person experiences I have work through my fear and anxiety and be where I am today with my dental restoration process with learning from my fellow members.
We are a supportive Family and I’m grateful to be a part of it!"
"This program has helped me prepare for events in the dental procedure/process that I never thought of and taught me new ways to handle anticipation and the "unknown" without getting overly worked up about things."
"I have people to ask questions and put my mind at ease. I have a group of people who get it and know what it is like to have "no smile" and what it is like to have a smile after yours has been gone for years. It’s a beautiful thing."
"Other Grin Grants gave me guidance on what to expect and how to deal with what's to come from the dentist and how to ask questions about what is going on with my smile restoration. The support from others that's already been through the process is priceless."
"The APPEAR program has changed my life my confidence level is over the top I'm truly grateful for the APPEAR program."
"The program alleviated the fears of the dentist and restoration. It gave me confidence in my dentist and the outcome of the procedure. And I have made life long friends through APPEAR."
"The program has helped me prepare for events in the dental procedure/process that I never thought of. I genuinely felt prepared for the
entire process."
"I've learned new ways to handle anticipation and the unknown without getting overly worked up about things."
"I have more confidence and I know that I am getting the absolute best that can be done for me because they know a lot about the smile
restoration process. They also personally go with me to appointments."
"I have people to ask questions and put my mind at ease. I have a group of people who get it and know what it is like to have "no smile"
and what it is like to have a smile after yours has been gone for years. It’s a beautiful thing!"
"There's no way I could have done this alone."
Testimonials are sourced from The Fletcher Group evaluative study on the Grin Grant
A.P.P.E.A.R. Program.
