Sarah came to us with complaints about her upper front teeth. Many years before, she had injured them in a bike accident. A previous dentist performed root canal therapy on these teeth, which included covering the teeth with crowns. Now, Sarah didn’t like their appearance, and they caused her some discomfort. She had difficulty with her bite, too–she had to work hard to bite effectively. She hoped that dental implants would be an attractive solution.
We examined Sarah’s teeth and found they were in bad shape and couldn’t be saved. However, preparing the area for dental implants meant improving the health of her gums. We also wanted to ensure enough space to safely place dental implants, which meant using orthodontic treatment to move her teeth. This would take time, but it would give excellent results worth waiting for. At the same time, we thought it would make sense to use porcelain veneers to improve the appearance of teeth next to the dental implants. The patient agreed to the treatment plan.
The Journey to a Healthy Smile
Preparation
We started by thoroughly cleaning the teeth and gums. Dental implants depend on healthy gums and bones, so this is critical. Then, we started a course of orthodontics. This made room for dental implants and prepared the troubled teeth for gentle extraction. During this slow process, the patient used CariFree to promote healthy teeth and gums, making double use of the time.
Extraction and Placement
We gently extracted the troubled teeth after the teeth achieved their desired positions. With the area healthy and the space prepared, we placed dental implants. To ensure she was never without teeth, we retained the tops of her extracted teeth and held them in place with the braces. This allowed the dental implants time to heal stress-free.
Restoration
After eight weeks, the dental implants were ready to support provisional restorations, which we used to help shape the gums over the abutments. With everything in place, all that was left was placing the final restorations–crowns on the implants and veneers on the neighboring teeth.
Careful selection of ceramic and artful design of the restorations together made for a beautiful, natural result. Plus, the work done to establish a healthy foundation meant the best chances for long-lasting, problem-free results.
Overall Results
In the end, all of our goals, including Sarah’s, were effectively achieved. She was left with a healthy, beautiful smile, one whose appearance, feel, and functionality were drastically improved.
Dr. Scott Rice said, “We were really proud of this case as a team. It was very complex, and we were all involved in achieving a great result for the patient.” Sarah now feels much more comfortable with the stability of her bite as well as with the radiance of her smile.
Before
During ortho treatment
After
Begin Your Smile Journey Today
Sarah’s story is a wonderful example of the kind of transformations that are possible once start the path to restoration. Her’s is just one of the many accounts of patients who came to Rice Dentistry seeking relief and left with a smile that is beautiful, functional, and long-lasting.
If you’re interested in expert, compassionate care, please contact the dental experts at our Irvine office by calling (949) 551-5902 or by using our online contact form.
