Patient Perspective
Jim Strawn
I have always been blessed with nice teeth. They were a little short and spaced, but for someone who was never required to wear braces they served me quite nicely until my mid-40's , when the fronts of my teeth began to split and chip, leaving unsightly cracks and fractures in my smile. I would temporarly fix them with fillings, but the fixes were just that: temporary.
Dr. Mark, and later his daugher Dr. Christen, finally convinced me that I needed porcelain veneers and I am so glad they did.
I learned a lot through the two week process. Dr. Christen took her time explaining the process of veneer application to me. I was surprised to find out that porcelain veneers are glass-like in nature and have a greater advantage over other cosmetic bonding techniques because they are translucent. The translucency effect of the porcelain creates a lustrous appearance for the tooth that very closely resembles the appearance of enamel. And boy, do they look nice...so natural.
Another benefit of getting porcelain veneers is their ability to resist stain. Unlike cosmetic dental bonding materials, a porcelain veneer's surface is just that-porcelain. Porcelain is a ceramic and will be, therefore, extremely stain-resistant, despite the consumption of food associated with staining and discoloration such as tea, coffee, red wine and tobacco products.
On July 28, 2007 my smile changed forever. I centainly recommend this procedure for anyone thinking about getting veneers and I would whole-heartedly refer anyone to Simpson Dental Associates.
This husband and wife couple came to our office, both complaining of lower dentures that did not fit keeping them from eating the foods they wanted. We were able to implant support both of their lower dentures in the same day. They came in that day with old broken dentures that did not fit and left with not only a beautiful new smile, but also dentures that allow them to eat those foods they had been missing. The happy couple left and was finally able to share an apple together.
Implant supported dentures
A Great Solution for Loose Dentures
By: Mark Simpson, D.D.S.
| BEFORE | AFTER |
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According to the American Dental Association, implant-supported dentures are the standard of care for loose or ill-fitting dentures. Patients often feel there is a problem with the way their current denture was made that has caused it to not function properly. Although this may be the case, more often it is the natural process of bone resorption that causes the problem.
When you have a full compliment of teeth, the teeth support the adjacent bone. Loss of teeth or periodontal disease (gum disease) results in the loss of the supporting bone. More teeth are lost to periodontal disease than any other cause, including decay. Once a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone begins to shrink away. This is a natural response that affects everyone. The solution is to support the bone at the time of extraction, utilizing a dental implant (Fig. 1).
Timing is important, as bone resorption continues over time until there is not adequate bone to support a denture or an implant. Seventy-five percent of people in nursing homes that have dentures can no longer wear them. This is a sad statistic and affects the quality of life of millions of people. As a dentist, I feel it is my obligation to educate people as to what to expect concerning the decisions they make about their oral health.
Every individual is unique and there is no single solution for all problems. Only with the proper diagnosis, X-rays and treatment planning can your options be determined. What works for one person may not be the best solution for you. To evaluate your needs, one of the most valuable tools is a C.T. cone beam scanner (Fig.2). This amazing device allows 3-D views of the areas for more accurate planning.
Bone resoption patterns vary widely so there is no one solution for all people. Our team at Simpson Dental Associates is ready to develop a plan specifically for you. All available options can be assessed, and you may choose the option you feel best suits you.
Our goal is to help advise you based on our experience. With over 60 years of experience, we have seen what works best.
Let’s review a typical case. Ms. Herndon has worn dentures for more than 20 years. Recently she had new dentures made but they did not solve her problem. The lower denture moved all around and the upper did not support her face. She feels her dentures make her look old. They don’t fit like her first set did (Fig.3). She feels like they were not made properly, but actually it is the loss of bone that has created this situation. A cone beam CT scan showed severe bone resorption had occurred in both jaws. Fortunately the resorption pattern still allowed for a fair amount of retention on the upper denture. The patient decided to just implant support the lower denture first and see how she got along. She understood that the upper jaw was still shrinking, but she felt she would like to start with implants on the lower first.
A new upper and lower denture were fabricated, paying particular attention to lip support, the proper vertical dimension, tooth arrangement, and the overall appearance. The bite relationship is critical to the overall stability. Location of the hinge axis jaw joint measures the rotation of the lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw to accurately position the two (Fig.4). Gnathological bite tracings tracked the movement of the jaws side to side to properly align the teeth (Fig. 5). This results in the most stable relationship of the teeth as they interact with each other. Chewing ability is improved as the teeth work more like natural teeth. Figure 6 shows the finished results. Notice the more natural-looking smile and the way her lips are supported. Personally, I think it takes ten years off. Ms. Herndon claims, “This has changed my life. This is the first time in my life people actually stop me to tell me what a beautiful smile I have. I’m eating what I want. My only regret is that I did not do this years ago.”
We ask her the common questions we get from most patients:
Q. What made you consider dental implants?
A. Actually, I heard Dr. Simpson on TV talking about solving peoples’ denture problems with dental implants. I had suffered for years, having difficulty eating the foods I know I should and liked.
Q. What sort of problems were you having?
A. Well, I had to really watch what I ate. My lower denture would move around. I was always the last to finish a meal and I felt I looked older than I was.
Q. Was the surgery painful?
A. Actually, the only thing I felt was a little tingle when I got numbed. After that I did not feel a thing. Even after I only had a little soreness. The surgery was much easier than I thought it would be.
Q. Would you do it again knowing what you know now?
A. I wish I had done it years ago. It has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself. I highly recommend implants to other people. Dr. Simpson and his staff were fantastic.
These are photographs and testimony of Ms. Connie Herndon.