Smile Gallery Banner Image

Treatment Process

This patient presents in his early 80’s and complains that his existing removable prostheses, which he has had for less than 1 year, are not functioning properly.

Initial esthetic evaluation demonstrates imbalances in both color and position of the existing front teeth.

View of the upper jaw with partial denture prostheses inserted and removed. One implant is visible on the patient’s right with an attachment to help retain the upper prosthesis. The patient’s left front tooth is also a dental implant currently holding a single crown. Close clinical examination followed by exploratory excavation, reveals unrestorable decay and structural failure of the surrounding front teeth.

View of the upper jaw with partial denture prostheses inserted and removed. One implant is visible on the patient’s right with an attachment to help retain the upper prosthesis. The patient’s left front tooth is also a dental implant currently holding a single crown. Close clinical examination followed by exploratory excavation, reveals unrestorable decay and structural failure of the surrounding front teeth.

View of Lower jaw with partial denture prosthesis inserted and removed. Two implants with denture attachments are visible on both sides, which are used to help retain the lower prosthesis. Decay and wear is noted on the front teeth, and a missing crown for the molar on the patient’s right side.

Improper design of both the upper and lower prosthesis, as well as imbalances in the bite, are the major reasons why these prostheses are not as serviceable as the patient desires. Pre-existing decay and structural compromises with the other supporting teeth have also contributed to treatment failure. After consultation with the patient and addressing his expectations for future treatment, the definitive treatment plan was formulated. This would include extraction of all remaining natural teeth, and placement of one additional implant on the upper jaw, and two on the lower. The 3 total implants on the upper arch would then be used to support a removable implant prosthesis, and the 4 implants on the lower would be used to support a full arch fixed implant bridge. In the interim healing period of 4 months the patient wore an immediate upper denture and his existing lower implant supported partial denture, with teeth replacing those which had been extracted.

Smiling photo with the upper immediate denture and lower immediate converted partial denture in place the day of the extractions and implant placement.

Smiling photo with final prostheses in place.

Full face photo of the patient with the final restorations in place!

Skip to content