LEWISBURG -- Susan Walters was perched on a chair in a Lewisburg dentist's waiting room in October, patiently hoping the doctor could stave off anymore infections in her teeth.
A mom of five and client of Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition, she didn't have the time or money to spend on her own teeth after caring for her children's. So she took the opportunity to participate in Lewisburg Family Dental Practice's free dental clinic for women of SVWIT. The practice is located at 728 Market St.
But after seeing Walters' not-so-pearly whites, Dr. Paul Romano decided to donate more than a teeth cleaning -- he offered to replace her upper teeth with a full denture and recruited two other Lewisburg businesses to complete her new look.
Last month, Walters' makeover was finished and she now boasts a new smile, wears a chic hairdo, and added some fashionable duds to her wardrobe. Some friends, and even her boss, had to do a double take before they recognized her.
"We're so grateful there are businesses reaching out to people who would typically not be able to afford this kind of work. Any extra money she has goes back into her kids," SVWIT CEO DiAnn Baxley said of Walters.
Walters assumed only her teeth would be fixed when she was told about the makeover, saying that would have been enough.
"I felt self conscious, and not only was I self conscious, but I was pretty much living on penicillin and over-the-counter pills because my teeth would get infections. I needed it to curb the pain," Walters explained.
If her upper teeth weren't extracted, Walters' periodontal disease could have caused teeth to loosen and fall out or damaged other parts of her body, Romano said. Periodontitis is now associated with cardiovascular disease and other systemic disorders, he explained.
"Many people are unaware of their periodontal condition until it is too late. Susan was unaware due to lack of access to dental care," he said.
All of Walters' upper teeth had to be pulled in order for her to be fitted with a complete denture.
"I was a little scared at first, ya know, but once I smiled and I looked at them, they really turned out nice," she said.
Next up was a visit to University Hair Design, 30 N. Second St., Lewisburg, to drastically trim her 1980s-styled hair she's worn puffed on top of her head and running down the middle of her back since she was in sixth grade.
"She had much more confidence by time she left here," salon owner Elissa Snook said. "Having a makeover is like making an investment in yourself because you know if you look good, you project a successful image, and you have that feeling of personal power."
Some new bangs and highlights later, Walters chose a new outfit at Premiere clothing store, 232 Market St., Lewisburg, and left as a more modern and healthy version of herself.
"Part of feeling good about yourself is liking what you see when you look in the mirror," said Carmen Fisher, owner of Premiere.
As an employee of Sunbury's Salvation Army store, Walters said she is used to taking care of customers and fulfilling their needs.
"I'm here to help other people and to have somebody just pamper me for a day was really nice," she said. "I definitely don't think twice smiling now."
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Woman treated to new look
Mom's teeth fixed; hair and wardrobe updated
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