They were ground down to stubs and some had fallen out.

I thought if I could fix my teeth, and if I could make the outside look good, maybe the inside will follow — and my problems would be fixed.

‘A rash decision’

It was daunting yet exciting as I had never been out of Australia. I am a homebody; I like my dog, my garden and the beach.

Patrick’s teeth. Source: Supplied

I thought I looked a million dollars with the new temporary crowns the Thai dental team gave me during my first appointment.

As I couldn’t leave with just half a mouth of teeth, I had to borrow the money from a friend back home.

‘Something felt wrong’

I visited a nearby dentist who found out that my gum infection had spread to the bone and reached the sinus. This required the removal of three teeth, a considerable portion of my gum, and some of my upper jawbone.

I went for the dentist that looked glitzy and glammy and probably didn’t do my due diligence with research.

Patrick earlier this year. Source: Supplied

Today, nearly two years on, I am considering going back to Thailand for implants to replace the lost teeth. But with a different dentist, of course.