Hiding My Teeth and Trying to Reclaim My Smile After Years of Addiction

A Citizen’s Forum contribution by Don Hamby:

“For over a decade, I lived in addiction, alcoholism, and homelessness here in Reno.

I was completely lost—hooked on anything I could get my hands on, sleeping outside in front of liquor stores, panhandling just to get my next drink or fix. I didn’t care about life anymore. I used to pray for death on that sidewalk. I was tired, broken, ashamed, and I couldn’t see a way out.

But one day my prayer changed. I didn’t pray to die—I prayed for help. I cried out to God and asked Him to show me a way out. I didn’t know it then, but that prayer was the beginning of everything.

Not long after that, I got into a fight over a drink. And that’s when God answered—not with a gentle hand, but with handcuffs. I was thrown in jail, detoxing, shaking, sick, and ashamed. But I was alive. I was sober. I was fed. I had a bed. And for the first time in years, I had time to sit still, think, and cry out to God again.

That’s where everything changed.

When I came out of detox, I was done. Completely done. I quit everything—alcohol, drugs, even cigarettes. I gave it all up that day, and I give all the glory to God. He delivered me, and I haven’t looked back.

I spent the next 20 months in prison, and I used every single day of it to grow. I prayed. I studied. I listened. I healed. And in the quiet of that cell, I learned that God had been with me the whole time—before I was born, in every dark alley, every jail cell, every fight, every failure. But it wasn’t until I surrendered that I could finally feel His presence and accept His grace.

When I got out, I was determined to start fresh.

The moment I was released, I started rebuilding immediately. I got my ID. Then my driver’s license. I graduated the halfway house program, found a place of my own, and eventually got a car—a reliable, low-mileage vehicle that I worked hard for. I’ve gone from having nothing—not even shoes on my feet—to becoming a stable, tax-paying, productive member of society. And I’ve done it by showing up, staying consistent, and refusing to go back.

Since January 27, 2022, I’ve stayed sober, stayed focused, and showed up for my life in every way. I’m coming up on four years clean and sober on January 27th, and that date means everything to me.

After my release in September 2023, I took every job I could get. Warehouses, manufacturing, production—sometimes with no tools, no experience, no safety net. But I learned quickly, showed up early, stayed late, and gave it everything I had. I’ve had perfect attendance. I’ve earned the respect of supervisors I’ve worked under. I’ve proven myself over and over again.

A while back, I shared my story in this community, and that post helped open a door for me. I went to an interview wearing a mask, and I was hired. Today, I work full-time in a warehouse, living a simple, quiet life in a one-bedroom apartment. I go to work, keep my head down, stay out of trouble, and stay grateful. I’m proud of the stability I’ve built.

And that brings me to the reason I’m posting today.

I’m trying to get my teeth fixed.

This is hard for me to talk about, but I want to be honest. I have no top teeth and only a few bottom teeth, and I’ve been wearing a mask for a long time now. Not because I want to—but because I’ve been embarrassed and I don’t feel comfortable smiling yet. I don’t wear a mask outside of my bathroom unless I absolutely have to. I wore it to interviews. I’ve worn it in public. And living like that weighs on you more than people realize. It affects your confidence, your social life, and how you carry yourself every day.

I’ve come a long way. I have a job. I have a place. I have a car. I have faith. I’m no longer surviving—I’m living. But this is one area where the past still shows up on my face every single day, and I’m ready to take the next step and finally get my smile back.

What I’m hoping for is something realistic—possibly implants on top and a bottom partial, or another smart step that makes sense medically and financially. I’m learning that every place has different answers, different costs, different financing, and different requirements. My job’s dental coverage doesn’t make this easy, but I can save some money over time. I just don’t have much extra, and I want to make the right decisions instead of rushing into the wrong ones.

So I’m posting here for direction and resources.

I’m not asking for sympathy, and I’m not asking for a handout. I’m working. I’m sober. I’m stable. I’m willing to save, make payments, show up to appointments, and do whatever is required. I’m just hoping someone in Reno or Sparks might know about:
• dentists who work with people in recovery or rebuilding their lives
• clinics that offer dental care on a sliding scale
• nonprofit programs that help with dentures or implants
• dental schools or training programs with reduced-cost care
• reputable providers with reasonable payment plans
• local programs or events that help people restore their smiles
• or even personal experiences and advice from people who’ve been through this

If you’ve dealt with dentures, partials, or implants yourself—and you have insight you wish you had earlier—I would genuinely appreciate hearing it.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’m proud of my sobriety. I’m proud that I work and live simply and honestly. I’m grateful to God for carrying me out of something I thought I would die in. And now I’m just trying to finish what I started—one step at a time—and be able to smile again without shame.

If you pray, I’d appreciate prayer. If you know resources, I’d appreciate guidance. If you’re a dentist or know someone who helps people in situations like mine, I’d be grateful for a message.

And to anyone reading this who’s still struggling—whether with addiction, homelessness, or feeling trapped—know this: God can turn anything around. If He can rescue me, clean me up, and give me purpose again, He can do the same for you.

Thank you for reading. I don’t take my life for granted today. I’m just trying to keep moving forward and reclaim the last piece of myself—my smile.”

Feel free to share this story on the below social media: