Tooth Decay and Failing Bridgework Addressed with All-On-4

This patient had gum disease which has lead to recession and unevenness of the gum line but the main issues were to with the bridges that she had done overseas. The teeth that supported the bridges were decayed beyond repair and it was no longer possible to save them and use them as supports for new bridgework. Even if the teeth could be saved the unevenness of the gum line could not have been easily corrected without the treatment that she ultimately chose.

In the treatment planning, the other consideration was that there were three teeth unaffected by tooth decay and which could have been saved. One option was to keep those teeth and only replace the ones that had to be removed. However whilst a more conservative approach would have created a situation where the continuity of the bridge is broken and its edges visible on either side of the retained teeth and because we would have had to work around the positions and orientation of existing teeth it would have reduced our flexibility in designing the restoration to the best possible aesthetics and comfort. The other problem with retaining certain teeth in the upper was that the fixtures would have had to be placed straight" and there was no bone in the back of the jaw for straight dental implants. By sacrificing the three teeth that were relatively healthy the roots were not in the way and it was possible to place the back implants at an angle and avoid bone grafting. A better design and more balanced aesthetics were made possible by the All On 4 treatment that this patient received which incorporates aesthetic gum replacement.

In the lower the left bridge was not at an ideal occlusal plane and caved in. We replaced this bridge so as to further improve the bite and function.

The treatment plan also involved retaining a single tooth at the very back. The rationale for this was to retain the ability of the patient to gauge the biting pressures allowing her to better control the forces of the bite. This is helpful especially in the initial period of healing of the dental implants as it reduces the natural forces imparted on the supporting fixtures and enhances the conditions for their undisturbed adaptation.