We first saw David as a patient for an implant consult after he lost the upper teeth that were part of a former dental bridge. After the bridge fractured, David had been wearing a denture to replace the upper gap, but with a strong gag reflex, he often did not wear it.
Why was David a good candidate for these procedures?
David was the ideal candidate for this procedure as he was missing multiple teeth, was in good general and oral health, and was opposed to wearing a removable prosthesis (denture) as a replacement option, especially on the upper jaw.
How did we develop a plan for treating David’s concerns?
David’s main concern was to have teeth that looked and felt like his own again. He did not want to deal with the many problems associated with long-term dentures. He was also concerned about his chewing ability and wanting to be able to eat solid foods (hard bread, steak, etc. Dental Implants can preserve the bone and improve comfort, aesthetics, and function without relying on support from other teeth.
What are the steps involved in this case?
- The patient’s X-rays, oral health, and medical health CT scans were examined before any dental implant procedure, allowing us to know precisely where to place the implants before any surgical work.
- Dr. Mark Bishara placed three dental implants into the jawbone, allowing the implants sufficient time for healing and integration with the bone.
- Dr. Mark Bishara attached abutments or posts to the dental implants
- The fixed bridge with new teeth was cemented and attached to the top of the posts
Am I an ideal candidate for a dental implant procedure?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant procedure is anyone in good chondral health with adequate jaw bone to support an implant. There are no age restrictions as long as a patient’s health is not compromised. We want to wait until the patient has reached maturity so that the jaw bone has finished developing.
What are the steps for home care for dental implants?
We advise patients that home care should differ from natural teeth for the next few months. We would like to see patients regularly to ensure that there are no concerns regarding the strength of the implant’s bond. Some recommend dental night guards for patients who clench or grind their teeth.
Dr. Mark Bishara West Bowmanville Family Dental
