For 10 years, Angie Barlow, 48, had been doing her own dental treatments by putting her broken teeth back in place using superglue in the hopes of avoiding a dentist. But as the chemicals from the glue depleted 90 percent of the bone supporting her teeth, Barlow developed a dental crisis, according to Manchester Evening News.
The mother, who works as a professional dog walker in the U.K., was too scared to get proper dental care because of what happened to her own mom.
"My mom died at 34 from throat cancer. She had a tooth out, and that's how they found she had cancer," said Barlow. "That fear has always been in the back of my mind... you just get your mind set and you just think, you don't go. You don't make that phone call."
Barlow is also as smoker, which contributed to the damage in her teeth, according to the Daily Mail.
"When the tooth comes out, I just put a little bit of glue and try and hold it in place to keep it, so I don't have a gap in my teeth. I used glue on the top of the tooth, and then I put it back in place until the glue is set," Barlow explained of her process. She also admitted that she grew self-conscious over the years because of her teeth problems.
Dentists examined Barlow's condition for the BBC documentary "Truth About Your Teeth" and said that it's in the worst shape. But the mom eventually decided to have her teeth done using her life savings.
The whole procedure resulted in the extraction of 11 teeth, the attachment of six titanium screws and the permanent attachment of 12 new teeth. It took about four hours for the whole procedure, which typically costs $9,200 to $25,000, according to Metro UK.
The documentary featuring Barlow will air in the U.K. June 11 on BBC One.
