Man with rotting teeth all smiles after dental work

A Greely, Ont., man who couldn't afford to fix his badly rotting teeth has a new smile, after his family alerted CBC News to his case.

"It's like a dream come true," Bryon Sampson said Friday, following his third appointment at the Herongate Dental Clinic, where he's already undergone weeks of procedures to remove six teeth.

Although his gums had indicated good hygiene and Sampson said he brushed regularly, his decaying teeth were causing him so much pain he was downing handfuls of painkillers. One impacted tooth had even begun to form an abscess outside his face.

Sampson's mother was so concerned she contacted CBC News Ottawa last month, fearing her son, who doesn't have a dental plan, would continue missing work and never get better.

Pro bono work

But the 25-year-old man was grinning widely on Friday in the office of Dr. Ben Fong, the local dentist who came to his rescue. Fong volunteered to help arrange for $15,000 worth of dental care for free.

Another six root canals are down the line for Sampson, Fong said.

He also hoped Sampson's story might convince other dentists to step forward and do pro bono work, adding he sees lots of people with similar dental problems.

"Lots. Lots," Fong said. "You know, I do what I can, and you know, I"ll actually maybe try to start some of this, maybe getting offices to offer this service, maybe one case a year."

Progress recorded for website

For Sampson's part, he said the huge improvements to his teeth have changed his life.

"Not worrying about whether or not I have to load up on Tylenol 3s or if I have to to work in pain or stay home," he said.

And all exposure from the media feels a bit like being famous.

"I'd prefer to be a movie celebrity rather than having to go through pain to be a celebrity," he said.

The progress of Sampson's treatment is being recorded by Fong and his associates and will be posted on a web forum for dentists.