COMMUNITY
LOCAL DENTISTS PROVIDE A NEW BEGINNING By Caryl Butterley, Jewish Family & Community Services
Brittany Heldwein was a gifted athlete growing up and excelled at track. But as a result of athletic injuries, she became dependent on painkillers. After years of the downward spiral of addiction and having her baby removed from her care, Brittany became a client of Jewish Family & Community Services. Working with JFCS case managers Danelle McCaw and Kate Colley, Brittany slowly began the process of
transforming her life. Danelle says, “There was a lot of shame but she owned up to her mistakes and fought hard to fix things.”
Brittany progressed to finding work and was rebuilding connections but struggled with her appearance. Due to past drug use, homelessness, and domestic violence, she had multiple missing teeth and significant deterioration. “My teeth were a constant reminder of where I had been,” she said. They were a source of embarrassment and shame, and she had quit smiling.
Local dentist Dr. Harris Rittenberg became aware of her story and offered to help give her a “new mouth.” Under Dr. Rittenberg’s care, with Dr. Vanni
R. Strenta performing oral surgery and DCS Dental Laboratory, Brittany underwent teeth removal, a bone graft, denture fittings, and finally implant surgery. All expenses were covered and she now has a physical transformation that mirrors her life transformation.
Brittany is currently sober and regularly attends meetings. She works full time, has re-established connections with friends and family, and recently helped her son Bear celebrate his second birthday. And she has started smiling again! "Dr. Rittenberg treated me with kindness and no judgment. He saved my life."
