We are delighted to share that Kit Spears, one of our experienced dental implant dentists who won the Implant: multiple teeth category in Dentistry’s clinical case awards 2023, has had his award-winning case study published in Clinical Dentistry magazine (March 2024 issue).
This respected publication showcases innovative and exemplary treatment planning and outcomes to share knowledge with dentists who subscribe, gaining them valuable CPD hours (continued professional development).
The magazine article showcases Kit's award winning case study, detailing implant placement, immediate placement and advanced guided bone regeneration, with restoratively-driven positioning.
Click to read this case, which we presented recently in our blog, Full mouth restoration.
To summarise, Mr M had several missing and worn teeth and was referred to Elmsleigh House for dental implants. He saw Kit Spears from the dental implant team, who found that the significant wear on his teeth had been caused by teeth grinding (bruxism), which had caused teeth to be lost due to cracking. He therefore needed to take a whole-mouth approach to plan treatment to distribute the biting forces more evenly.
Options included a chrome denture, fixed bridges or dental implants, or a combination of these options. Kit wanted to plan treatment using models of Mr M’s teeth to design and visualise the final outcome. This involved a thorough evaluation of his teeth, gums and bite and additional x-rays to enable models of Mr M’s teeth to be made to digitally and physically plan treatment.
The plan to treat Mr M’s existing teeth involved: reshaping the gum around his two upper front teeth to improve gum height in order to increase the bonding area of the composite resin and improve appearance.
Restoration of ten front teeth (two upper and eight lower) in composite resin to planned appearance, shape and bite based on wax model planning.
Restoration of a further ten teeth with temporary crowns and onlays to new bite. Test function, appearance and speech with the new bite (for several weeks), and replace all temporary crowns and onlays with ceramic crowns and onlays as well as a four-unit ceramic bridge on the upper left.
The plan to replace Mr M’s missing teeth involved three implants to replace his upper right lateral incisor, lower right first molar and lower left first molar. Two implants to secure a four-unit bridge on his upper right. Two implants to secure a three-unit bridge to replace his fractured canine and both adjacent teeth. After some months of healing to ensure integration, these were restored with implant crowns or bridges made to match the look and colour of his other teeth. A temporary acrylic denture was made for the gaps to be restored before completing the restorative and implant treatment.
At the end treatment, a custom-made acrylic mouthguard was made to protect all restorative work and minimise further wear.
“Dear Kit....
I was impressed with the way you yourself so helpfully and calmly explained each stage of the work, and your ability to listen, but (most importantly!) your very considerate expertise. How reassuring - and even awesome - to find that the service and professional skill I expected was a reality” Mr M.
