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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.
Sometime quality of life is dependent on how well one can chew. Dental implants can be incorporated into partial dentures to increase the chewing efficiency for the patient. By adding a couple of implants in this patient's arch, I can easily help increase the retention of her loose partial denture. This is just one of many ways through which dental implants can help change my patients' quality of life.
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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.
When it comes to Implant teeth, the work should begin with proper diagnosis and treatment planning with the restorative dentist who will fabricate your final restorations. If the restorative dentist does not place the implants, he/she will coordinate with the surgeon so that the outcome of the treatment can be optimized for both esthetic and function. In the case below the patient went to an oral surgeon before coming to me for a consultation for crowns to be placed on the implants in her mouth. This is actually a reversed pattern of treatment. Sometimes the ideal final result cannot be achieved because the implants have been placed in the wrong position.
We will be gathering some detailed diagnostic records and studies to come up with a plan to restore these teeth, but there are obvious issues with the case.
In the X-ray you can see that Implant # 1 and # 2 were placed too close to each other. Here are the potential problems:
1. The crown for Implant # 1 may be much smaller than its ideal size.
2. The gum tissue between the teeth for Implant # 1 and Implant # 2 will not have any room to sustain a normal shape and healthy environment.
On the other hand, you can also see that implant # 2 and # 3 were placed too far from each other. Here are the potential problems:
1. The crowns between these 2 implants may appear unusually large/wide and may not fit the patient's smile esthetically.
2. It may also be impossible to create normally looking gum tissue between these two implant teeth.
Additionally, Implant # 3 was placed too close to the adjacent natural tooth. This may cause the natural root to resorb if indeed the threads of the implants have impinged on the ligaments and/or root of the natural tooth.
To ensure an optimal dental implant result, it is always recommended that the patient seek proper consultation with qualified clinicians prior to proceeding with the treatments.
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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.
In order to place an implant in the patient's jaw, we need to assess several criteria at the location of the planned implant. Some of the important factors may include: 1. The patient's bone height
2. The patient's bone width
3. The proximity to the nerves in the lower jaw
4. The proximity of the sinus cavity in the upper jaw
Using a 3D Cone Beam Scan (CT Scan) we can precisely analyze all of the above criteria and predetermine the exact size and location of the implant prior to the surgical placement.
Here is a screen capture of the planning process for two implants to replace two missing molars in our actual patient's lower jaw. The red line below the two planned implants is a nerve in the lower jaw. That nerve is often the limiting factor in the lower jaw where some implants for posterior teeth may be needed.
Proper use of technology helps ensure optimum results and safety of dental implant treatment.
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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.
I recently received this question via email. "My father wants to replace all upper teeth with implants. He will be paying cash. All the teeth have been removed about a year ago... Do you know around how much it would be? "
My answer to her was a bit lengthy, but basically:
There are many options for replacing teeth with implants.
1. You can have porcelain types of teeth that are fixed on the implants, or
2. Dentures that are retained by the implants. These two options determine how many implants should be placed. However, the patient's bone condition determine how many implants we could place. Therefore the cost depends on a number of things which may include: 1. Bone condition
2. The number of implants
3. The kind of prosthesis
Unless I have all the necessary records such as x-rays, CT scans, study models, and patient clinical exam, then it would be very difficult to estimate the cost.
It is important to understand that replacing one tooth with a dental implant is very different than replacing an entire arch with dental implants. Hence, you must seek a competent clinician to consult for a thorough understanding from the surgical aspects to the restorative choices. Cost is the final factor after you have arrived at a comprehensive treatment plan.
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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.