Where There’s a Will, There’s Technology!

Q: As a kid I hated going to the dentist because every time I went it was because of a toothache and the dentist just pulled teeth. Even as a teenager I had many of my permanent teeth pulled and I ended up with a partial denture for appearance's sake.

I had a front tooth missing and about four back teeth missing. It happened to everyone, so we thought it was normal, but now as a mature adult with children grown, I’m looking for more permanent solutions. I’ve learned a bit about permanent bridges and implants but when I went for an exam I was told that while I could have a permanent bridge to replace the missing front tooth that I would need a partial denture for my back teeth because so much bone was lost after my upper teeth were taken. I was told a good, strong partial could be made and it would give me chewing ability.

Now I’ve had a partial and it barely gets through the soft stuff so I’m a bit skeptical. I really want something that works – as in permanent bridge. I’ve heard implants can do that but again, I was told I had only about three millimeters of bone below my sinus that was left after my teeth were extracted so I can’t have implants. This is frustrating and I don’t know what the solution is. It’s my upper left side – no teeth after the eye tooth. There’s got to be an answer.

A: Actually there are several good answers so let me outline one that will allow you to keep the good teeth ,that you have and give you the strong bite and function you want.

Your situation, of only a thin layer of bone between your gums and sinus is not uncommon. New technology allows us to now open a channel in the bone in these areas right to the membrane that lines the sinus.

Once this lining is seen through that channel, a “hydraulic apparatus” allows us to lift the membrane off the floor of the sinus without tearing it.

This lifting allows us to insert bone grafting granules up into the area where the sinus has been lifted. Once placed, the graft is followed by placing an implant so that now the implant is anchored in your own bone and surrounded by the bone just inserted. If several implants are needed, the process is repeated for each implant.

Over the next four to six months this graft will turn into your own sound bone and anchor the implants so they can receive crowns.

You can now have a fixed bridge to replace your missing front tooth and shortly after have crowns on your healed implants. You will experience chewing power like never before!

If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation or visit us today.

Based on actual patient cases

 Calvin Ross Crapo

Victoria Implant Centre

778-410-2080

My Teeth Don’t Like My Cooking

Q: Many years ago as I decided my vocation, I fell in love with cooking. Almost forty years later, I still love to cook. I make very good and tasty dishes. Each dish is sampled in its preparation to ensure taste and quality control. I’ve retired from commercial work but still cook at home for my wife and friends. I say this because when you’re cooking and tasting six days a week for long hours then fall into bed late after clean up only to sleep and start the day again, there is not a lot of time for self.

My teeth have been neglected over the years to the degree that I have lost all my lower molars and six or seven teeth on top so that I have really no biting power. I’ve got a partial denture but it is of little help. The only reason I really have it is because I have a missing front tooth and the partial fills that tooth space. I am supposed to chew better with it – but it’s mostly for looks…

I need to know what to do because one of the teeth that the partial clings to is loose and I know is going to fail soon. I don’t want a denture. I will lose all the fine tastes and textures that make eating and drinking such a pleasure but I don’t have a lot of options, I’ve been told. I’ve also been told I have an end to end bite so I’m naturally hard on my back teeth, I guess between decay and root canals, I really broke down my teeth. What can I do to get the best result? I know I’m going to lose more teeth so can I get help that will correct my bite and give me teeth to chew with?

A: I have seen a number of chefs over my career and this problem of tooth decay is not unique. Your lives are intense, and self-care is often secondary.

Tooth loss unfortunately seems common to lifetime chefs. Most should be seeing a dentist and hygienist every three months so that cleaning and coaching on tooth and gum care becomes an important part of personal hygiene and self-care.

When many teeth are missing and jaw considerations are a threat to the existing teeth (your edge-to-edge bite) good dental records and analysis will inevitably lead to a full mouth reconstruction plan so teeth can be fabricated to the right position, the right angulation, and the right length for even wear, bite comfort, proper speech, and good aesthetics.

Today, existing teeth in the upper jaw can be gently removed and implants placed and a bridge put in place that will satisfy the above requirements. This treatment has an excellent track record.

Your lower molars can be replaced with implants that will support crowns. If your existing lower teeth need crowning to fill the requirements of reconstruction, that can be accomplished in a timely manner.

If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation or visit us today.

Based on actual patient cases

 Calvin Ross Crapo

Victoria Implant Centre

778-410-2080