Dental Implants - Actual Cases
As part of the services offered by The Centre For Dentistry, dental makeovers have become increasing popular. In some cases of performing dental makeovers, it is necessary to perform dental implants. Continue to read on about dental implants. Feel free to contact The Centre For Dentistry for more information on dental makeovers.
As a part of dental makeovers, there are many different ways dental implants can be utilized in the jawbone. The simplest solution to a single missing tooth, is to place a single implant to replace a single tooth, as shown in the illustration on the right. Another option would have been to prepare the teeth on either side of the space for crowns, and have the laboratory fabricate a three unit bridge. This sometimes, of course, means grinding down two healthy teeth. If something goes wrong with one of the teeth, what was a one tooth problem, can turn into a 3 (or more) tooth problem.
When dealing with back teeth, especially in the lower jaw, where esthetics is not of minor importance, it is an elegant and simple solution. When dealing with a front tooth, as shown below, the esthetic challenges can be far greater, trying to match up shape, and shade, and maintain the health and height of the gum tissue.
Single Tooth Implant
Multiple Implant Bridge
Of course if many teeth are missing, a segment of the dental
arch, or the entire arch can be replaced with implants. In
the case shown, the patient's bridgework, had failed because
her dentist had not adhered to the proper standards of care. |
|
|
We were able to salvage 4 of her natural teeth to help
hold a temporary bridge in place while the implants osseointegrated
(bone growns around the implant and holds it snugly after
about 4 months). The gold recepticles allow the temporary
bridge to snap into place. The silver colored fixtures are
the implants, in bone, prior to the gum being closed back
over them. |
It looks a lot worse than it really is. Because bone has
few nerve endings, the procedure is relatively painless.
Afterwards you can expect swelling, and your face looking
a little black and blue for a couple of days. The end results
allowed our patient to have an upper bridge made, which is
cemented, and does not come out. |
|
"Four on the Floor"
The previous cases involved cementable (non-removeable)
replacements. A more economical way of replacing a denture
would be to place 4 or 5 implants in the lower jaw, connect
them with a bar for strength and then fabricate a denture that
has clips inside it to lock onto the bar. |
|
|
Spark Erosion - Transzygomal
 |
We have been restoring dental implants since the late 1980's,
so we have had tremendous opportunity to expand the scope of
our capabilities. We are constantly updating our skills in
all areas of dentistry. One of the great challenges has been
in implant restoration of the entire upper jaw. Very often
the sinus gets in the way of our surgeon's ability to place
an implant exactly where we need it. Recent innovations have
eliminated the need for sinus lift surgery in some cases, allowing
the implant to bypass the sinus and go into the zygomatic arch. |
The case below shows 2 dental implants, placed at acute angles
to the perpendicular in the back of the arch. There are 6 fixtures
holding this bar down, 4 small ones in the front, and two zygomaticus
fixtures in the back. The denture has a metal casting that is
machined to be a precise fit with the bar. |
|
|
A nylon clip in the the front provides extra retention.
Anchored to this bar is a beautifully constructed denture, which
has absolutely no movement when chewing (and he can eat steak)
and is removable to allow for easy cleaning around the implants
(implants can develop gum problems just like natural teeth, so
they require frequent maintenance). |
Complex Restorative Problems
Due to our years of experience, we can handle just about anything.
For some reason, the surgeon who placed these implants did not
take into consideration what the restorative plan would be for
this patient. As a consequence, we were left with the challenge of
utilizing the implants for retention and stability of the case,
and also needing to get the esthetics right. It would have been
far easier, if the surgeon had taken all the teeth out, and placed
the same three implants, but spaced them out around the lower jaw. |
|
|
What we got was three implants, tight together, on a totally
different level than the surrounding three teeth. An outstanding
functional and cosmetic result (now over 10 years without a problem)
was achieved! |
Let the Centre for Dentistry be your implant experts!
|
