Get one step closer to the smile you’ve always wanted
By Karun Dewan Consultant in Restorative Dentistry Specialist in Prosthodontics, Endodontics & Periodontics.
Historically, the only solution to tooth loss was by replacing the lost tooth by way of a bridge or getting dentures. Bridges could be determinantal to your own tooth tissue. The average lifespan of bridges published in the literature ranges from 10-15 years primarily as a result of weakened tooth structure supporting the bridges. The teeth under the bridge are more susceptible to decay and fracture. Removable partial dentures typically last between 3 to 5 years and during that time they often need to be relined (made thicker) as the bone continues to resorb, or deteriorate. These are viable treatment options and treatment strategy is based on multiple factors such as number of teeth missing, quality of teeth present, if the bite is stable or not and patient factors such medical history, smoking habit, compliance and costs. False teeth have been around for hundreds of years; George Washington’s false teeth from the 1780s are still on display at Mt. Vernon. There’s even evidence of false teeth being used by the Etruscans as far back as 700 B.C.
If you’ve lost an adult tooth, you know exactly how painful and embarrassing it can be. And if you’re over 65, there is high probability that you had to bid farewell to one or more teeth.
In the past two decades, with advancement in dental technology, alternative prosthetic options such as adhesive bridges that sticks to the adjacent natural tooth or teeth with fixed dental cement does not require tooth reduction of healthy tooth tissue that conventional techniques rely on. They are simple, reversible, quick and cost-effective option for simple cases often requiring replacement of single tooth. The use of adhesive bridges to replace two or more missing teeth should always be cautiously approached as their success is inversely proportional to number of missing teeth and area in the mouth requiring replacement.
Numerous studies in the scientific literature demonstrate that dental implants are 95% to 98% successful for periods of 15 to 20 years, depending upon various conditions, such as the general health of the patient, the quality and quantity of available bone, the number of teeth replaced and the type of replacement teeth.It is prudent that a comprehensive assessment and planning is carried out before delivery of the treatment and timing of implant placement.
In majority of patients, dental implants provide a highly predictable, viable and definitive treatment option. Almost all my patients treated with dental implants for their missing tooth or teeth, have reported higher quality of life, comfort, speech and chewing capabilities. This improvement of quality of life is well recognised and supported fact both nationally and internationally. Infact The McGill Consensus Statement on Overdentures in 2002 supported that Mandibular 2-implant Overdentures should be the First Choice Standard of Care for Edentulous patients who have lost all of their teeth. As clinicians, it is incumbent upon us as professionals to provide to our patients with all the information available so that a choice is made that fits their need of individual and a correct decision is made early.
In 2007, I carried out a study to measure the levels of patient satisfaction in those who received treatment with implant-retained dentures, and compared their status before and after therapy. Satisfaction questionnaires were mailed to patients who had previously worn a removable prosthesis. Questions addressed eating, aesthetics and comfort before and after the treatment.
Eighty-six (79.8%) subjects had problems regarding looseness of their denture prior to treatment. Patients were generally satisfied with their implant-retained overdentures in terms of function, comfort, appearance and speech. The results suggest that unstable, problematic complete dentures can be managed by providing patients with implant-retained overdentures.
A Retrospective Study to Assess Patient Satisfaction with Implant-Stabilized Prostheses
Karun Dewan, James Owens, Edward Hems. Dental Update Volume 34 Number 8 Page 470 – October 2007.