At the time this 63 year old patient presented in our office, she was complaining of pain in her upper right jaw. It was revealed during our examination that the patient's denture anchors, consisting of 4 individual implants were beginning to fail.
Early Implant Failure
The traditional implants were only 2 years old.
The cause of the failure could not be determined, although the patient did wear her denture 24/7. Perhaps leaving the denture in her mouth overnight contributed to the implant failure. Oral hygiene habits were ruled out.
The implants that were in place had a HA coating (hydroxyappatite). Either operator error in placement or too early loading of the implants caused the osseous (boney) breakdown leading to failure.
In terms of basic dental function and overall esthetics, our patient was not satisfied by the appearance and fit of her denture, in addition to the developing pain issues. Her smile was not as broad as she had hoped it would be.
The tissue around the failing implants was inflammed (peri-implantitis), in particular the implants on the right side. Radiographic analysis showed that there was also significant bone loss around the implants.
Dr. Pohl determined that the most sensible solution to resolve the hard and soft tissue deterioration caused by the bad implants would be to totally remove the failed implants and create a custom anchoring system that would take best advantage of her jaw bone structure.
To promote interim tissue healing, the patient's existing denture was relined so she could use the denture while a more attractive denture was being created.
Imtec Mini Dental Implants
Due to the bone loss caused by the failing implants, Dr Pohl used specialized implants (IMTEC) that are specifically made for dentures and have engineering characteristics that provide the best implant solution for minimal bone density.
A entirely new denture product was created for the patient that had the cosmetic appeal and appearance the patient had always wanted.
The new denture was prepared to fit accommodate the special ball heads of the Imtec implants. To further ensure a gentle but firm attachment between the new denture and mini implants, silicone gel to provide increased adhesion with a cushioning effect.... to promote optimal osseointegration of the new implants.
Once osseointegration is completed, a more permanent gasket type of attachment material would be used to provide the stable fit and feel that fixed dentures typically provide.
As can be seen in our last two post treatment photos, the patient's new denture adds considerable tooth height which created a more normalized bite and occlusal relationship. This adjustment in height is commonly known as increasing the Vertical Dimension or opening the bite.
In general terms, a Face Lift effect results which eliminates the collapsed bite effect that many patients feel they have with poorly designed dentures.
The new denture provides additional support for the upper lip structure which now permits normal lip movement when smiling. Smiles tend to be much broader and fuller, providing a more youthful appearance.
Our patient was thrilled with the functional outcome of treatment. Jaw pain no longer existed. She could eat and chew all of her favorite foods again without discomfort.
Cosmetically, she reported she felt years younger and now loves showing off her new dentures.
Listen to an interesting 2 minute audio testimonial from our patient. She discusses the experience of having failed implants and the need to replace a denture that was only two years old. She gives a first hand description of the impact of her denture makeover.
Schedule a Complimentary Evaluation today with Dr. Pohl to learn more about the special applications of Imtec mini dental implants (MDI) for creating comfortable denture solutions for new denture wearers and current denture wearers.
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