Mrs B saw Kit Spears for an initial dental implant consultation and thorough assessment. Her two missing teeth on the upper right-hand side were functionally important teeth, so she wanted these replaced.
The plan agreed was to replace Mrs B’ missing teeth with two dental implants and implant-retained crowns. This would give Mrs B fixed teeth, which would improve the appearance of her smile, support the gum and bone, stabilise her bite and make eating easier.
An x-ray of the area revealed that there was limited bone between her gumline and the base of her sinus (an airspace in her cheekbone). This meant Kit would need to carry out a mini sinus lift for each implant, where the base of the sinus is raised in order to allow enough bone for implant placement.
Kit performed two mini sinus lifts to raise the base of the sinus bed to allow implant placement. Regenerative techniques were used to augment the bone at the same time as placing two implants in the jawbone under local anaesthesia.
Essentially ‘bionic roots’, dental implants are small titanium screws that integrate with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration and actively prevent bone loss. The implants were buried under the gum and allowed to heal for four months.
Kit then uncovered and tested the implants and placed healing caps, which protrude through the gum.
Impressions were taken and a colour match performed to make the crowns look like Mrs B’s adjacent teeth.
Implant posts were securely fitted and the crowns temporarily secured to ensure Mrs B was happy with the fit, feel and appearance before securing definitively in place.
Mrs B was delighted with the look, feel and function of the implant crowns, and continues to see her dentist Sarah Mack and the dental hygiene team at Elmsleigh House.
Looking after dental implants with professional cleaning, a good teeth brushing regimen at home and seeing a dentist for regular check-ups will ensure their long-term health.