Mihaley Schlegel, from Oklahoma, was born with a form of osteogenesis imperfecta that also affected her teeth. They were extremely fragile, and eating became increasingly difficult during her teenage years. In December 2021, when she was 19, she finally underwent dental reconstruction.
From a young age, Mihaley Schlegel knew her teeth were different. They looked almost transparent and were much more fragile than normal, a consequence of the osteogenesis imperfecta she had. Over the years, the problem got worse, and her teeth began to break easily.
By the age of 15, eating could already be difficult and painful. In addition to the physical problem, her appearance became a source of insecurity during her teenage years. Schlegel said she was teased about her teeth and eventually began avoiding smiling or showing her mouth.
For years, she searched for a solution, but her case was particularly complex. Finally, at 19, she found a medical team willing to perform the procedure she needed. In December 2021, she underwent dental reconstruction, during which her teeth were removed and she later received dentures.
The change was not merely cosmetic. After the procedure, Schlegel said she could smile without feeling the need to hide and described the result as an experience she had been waiting for for a long time.
Her case drew attention precisely because of how unusual her condition was: teeth that had seemed almost transparent since birth and that, because of their extreme fragility, ended up affecting even an everyday activity like eating.