Baseball Accident, Teeth Loss & Successful Dental Implants in Houston - A Case Study

Case Study of Henry’s Accident and Dental Condition Overview – From NoDentures.com
This week’s case involves a 27 yr old young man, named Henry, who was struck in the mouth at the age of 14 with a baseball bat. His lives in Venezuela and works as a physical therapist. This accident caused Henry to lose three front teeth, his upper right cuspid [eye tooth], lateral and central. In this case, bone damage was extensive. The entire ridge is lost in that area in a U-shaped manner, going all the way to his nasal cavity.

Henry’s Earlier Dental Treatments and Advice
His previous dentist did an excellent job by fabricating and placing a fixed bridge, which is double-abutted to the central and lateral and single-abutted to the #4, the upper left first bicuspid. Thus, three teeth were replaced with three natural teeth supporting the bridge, where a bridge encompasses a total of 6 teeth. Pontic replacing teeth #’s 6, 7 and 8 were very long to hide. However, Henry had a low lip line and that’s why the space where bone and gums were lost looked very natural. Henry sought treatment for dental implants in Houston because he was told by his dentist that tooth #4, which helped in holding his bridge in place, was hopelessly decayed and it would require extraction. He was advised that his only options were
1. A removable partial, or
2. A new fixed bridge, extending one tooth further back, or
3. Dental implants

Unfortunately, his dentist told him that dental implant is not possible because of excessive bone loss. He was further advised that in order to place another fixed bridge, another natural tooth would need to be cut down. In fact, the concerned dentist also warned Henry that there are high possibilities for him to lose another tooth in the future. Henry was advised that a partial denture can be an option but there too some issues might crop up, such as:
i) uncomfortable feeling due to dentures
ii) tooth decay and gum disease may occur in the places where the dentures are attached to natural teeth
All in all, Henry was not given a very attractive set of choices by his dentist.

Henry’s Search for the Best Dental Implants in USA
At this juncture, Henry got busy in calling his contacts in the States and researching the internet. A few days ago, he landed in my dental implant practice in Houston, Texas. Henry learned from his sources that we are the leading-most Houston implant surgeon and consequently help our patients to grow new bone in their upper and lower arches for the purpose of implant placement.

[Dental Implantology is the process of placing man-made roots in the mouth of the patients to replace natural roots and serve as attachment systems for one tooth to a full mouth of teeth.

Dental implant Prosthodontics is the art of building dental restorations on dental implants.]

Henry’s Case Study – Dental Condition, Dental Implant Challenge & Our Success
Henry’s case was very similar to that of other dental cases, caused from accidents. In most of these cases, we have witnessed that the patients face trauma at the front of their mouth. Teeth, bone, and gums are also found missing in these cases. Multiple remaining teeth with varying degrees of damage are also common in these patients. These are among the most challenging cases we face with dental implants because it is the front of the mouth and a stunning esthetic result is just as important as a comfortable, durable and functional result.

Fortunately, dental implants in Houston have come a long way and lately advances in bone regeneration techniques have flourished as well. Upon Henry’s return I began by removing his existing bridge, extracting hopeless tooth #5 and reflecting a full thickness flap from the mesial of tooth #3 to the mesial of tooth #6. As the CAT Scan had revealed, there was a very large midpalatine neurovascular bundle that would have produced a substantial Diasthema between 8 and 9, if both were naturally existing or if I placed an implant in the 9th position. The bundle was removed and the fossa was decorticated to a depth of 9mm to facilitate dental implant placement in that position at a later date. As the bundle tailed off, the lingual removal of only 9 mm was required. Much as in a traditional sinus lift, the nasal membranes were lifted slightly and bone was decorticated with numerous “punches” from a quarter round bur with copious irrigation. This was followed by the final shaping of a titanium mesh membrane and filling of the voids, including the incisive canal with “osteocell”. The mesh was secured with two palatal bone screws and two buccal bone tacks. Tissue was harvested from the palate for using it as a free gingival graft over the extraction site #5, where primary tension free closure was not possible. The surgical site was closed with gut. Tooth #4 was sacrificed to crown prep so that we could use a fixed temporary bridge during the bone regeneration stage. I find that grafts with membranes, titanium mesh or titanium reinforced Teflon, are much better when they are not molested by the pressure of removable appliances. The temporary bridge was secured and only one task remained. There was a small tear in the palate at the most apical mesial corner of the titanium mesh membrane. It was exactly over the head of the bone screw. To say the least, this was not a positive development, as exposure over the bone screw is common without a tear and it could lead to infection and a failed grafting procedure. I made every attempt to close the tear with sutures but was less than completely successful. A very thin suck-down clear plastic stent was formed and the patient was asked to wear it 24x7, except for those cases where it needed to be removed for cleaning purposes.

It is possible that this very small error could jeopardize what was otherwise a beautifully executed surgery. However, God Willing, and with a little bit of luck, we have laid the foundation for giving back Henry a second chance for a beautiful, naturally functioning set of front teeth.

I’ll keep you informed about this unique case of Henry in our center of dental implants in Houston.

Dental implants from Dr. Wayne Brueggen of Houston, Texas

Dental implants from the Brueggen Dental Implant Center located in Houston, Texas provide several benefits to those in need of teeth replacement.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offered by the Brueggen Dental Implant Center in Houston, Texas are a permanent solution to the problem of tooth loss. Whether you are missing one tooth or all of your teeth, dental implants are a permanent solution that provides you with a functioning and attractive smile.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that a single tooth or a complete set of new teeth can be attached to. This provides you with confidence to smile and restores your ability to eat the foods you enjoy.

Dental implants offered by the Brueggen Dental Implant Center in Houston will help you to become more confident and regain the reliability associated with a healthy set of natural teeth. These man made roots act as an anchor for supporting replacement teeth and are an integral part of the dental implant system. The natural looking replacement teeth that attach to the dental implants do not require any support from adjacent existing teeth therefore helping to keep them healthy. Dental implants also help in maintaining the structure and integrity of the jawbones.

Drawbacks of other Dental Procedures

While dental implants focus on restoring function and beauty to your mouth, there are other dental procedures that focus primarily on making an unattractive smile more esthetically pleasing. Often, these procedures prove to be anything but user-friendly. If you have the option and/or need to replace your smile all together then dental implants would be the best way to have both function and an attractive smile in one simple procedure.

Some of the problems associated with other dental procedures are:

1. Bridges rely on healthy adjacent teeth for support but healthy adjacent teeth aren’t always present. If they are, they often need to be ground down and can producing complications and further expense down the road. (Dental implants do not require healthy adjacent teeth for support.)
2. There is no ease of maintenance with bridges. In fact, their average lifespan is only ten years and often require replacement at five years or less. (Dental implants are capable of lasting a lifetime.)
3. Dentures are generally the least expensive option for replacing a complete arch of missing teeth but tend to be uncomfortable, unnatural looking, embarrassing,and limit your ability to eat the foods you enjoy. (Dental implants provide a natural, comfortable and activity boosting solution.)
4. Dentures need to be removed at night and may require gooey adhesives to keep them in place. This is terribly inconvenient and can also increase your chances of misplacing or damaging your dentures. (Dental implants stay secure in your mouth and can be cleaned just like natural teeth.
5. If you have bridges and dentures in your mouth then you will be limited to the types of foods you can chew such as nuts, fruits and many more. At best a full set of dentures will only restore 35% of you natural chewing force.(Dental implants allow you to use increased force on your bite and enjoy all your favorite foods again.)
6. Bridges and dentures do not stimulate bone growth therefore patients choosing these options may experience extreme bone loss over time. This can result in an older appearance. (Dental implants actually stimulate bone growth and help maintain a youthful appearance.)

With proper maintenance and regularly scheduled visits to the Brueggen Dental Implant Center in Houston, Texas, your dental implants are designed to last a lifetime.

Dental implants are available at the Brueggen Dental Implant Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wayne Brueggen, Houston dentist, is the founder and sole owner of the Brueggen Dental Implant Center. Dr. Brueggen’s background includes expertise in both cosmetic dentistry and dental surgery. His over 35years of experience in the dentistry and the treatment of over 20,000 patients has made him a highly respected expert in his field. Dr. Wayne Brueggen is the foremost leader in the All-On-Four dental implant procedure. A process that allows him to remove any damaged existing teeth, place dental implants, and build a new set of new non-removable teeth, secured by the dental implants, all in one day.

What are dental implants?

Dental Implants - An Excellent Option for Tooth Replacement

Dental implants are simulated roots that are positioned properly in the jaw bone to grip the replacement tooth which offers a natural look and feel for the patient. They provide the patient the freedom to speak and eat with confidence. There is no need for the patient to fear slippage or dread the use of adhesives which are common with dentures.

Usually, a patient becomes a candidate for dental implants for several reasons. The patient has either lost their teeth due to an accident or are about to lose one or more teeth due to decay. Dental implants offer a more permanent alternative to removable dentures or bridges. Both dentures and bridges neglect to stimulate bone growth which can cause some patients to experience excessive bone loss over the years resulting in a less than youthful feel and appearance.

There are several varieties of dental implants but traditionally there are two basic categories. The first and most widely used is the Endosteal implant which is placed directly into the bone. This requires sufficient bone integrity to support the implant insertion. The second category is Subperiosteal implants which are used if the existing bone has already atrophied causing the jaw bone structure to become limited. The implant in this case is secured on top of the remaining jaw bone as opposed to being inserted into the bone.

The most recent and emerging type of endosseous or (root-form) dental implants are those known as, “All-on-Four dental implants.” The All-on-Four dental implants are made of titanium and the crown part resembles a significantly more natural looking tooth compared to traditional implants or dentures. These endosseous dental implants succeed because they are integrated within your existing jawbone and require a limited amount of overall implants. Where traditional implants often require an average of 8 to 10 implants all inserted into one arch, All-on-Four dental implants only require 4 implants each on the lower and upper arches providing a secure and long-term solution for tooth loss.

All-on-Four dental implants are available at the Brueggen Dental Implant Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wayne Brueggen, Houston dentist, is the founder and sole owner of the Brueggen Dental Implant Center. Dr. Brueggen’s background includes expertise in both cosmetic dentistry and dental surgery. His over 30 years of experience in the dental industry and the treatment of over 20,000 patients has made him a highly respected expert in his field. Dr. Wayne Brueggen is the foremost leader in the All-on-Four dental implant procedure. For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit www.nodentures.com