Having my practice based on Aesthetics, Implantology and Oral Rehabilitation, all cases are fascinating to me but, without a doubt, some still manage to surprise and challenge me.

As a Maxillofacial Surgeon and, obviously, placing many Implants, I am proud to be ultra conservative of the natural tooth: the best implant in the World!

What fascinated me about this case?

In this case I managed to keep all the patient’s teeth (I’m sure it wouldn’t be like this in many other clinics). This meant many more hours of work for the team and more chair time for the patient, but, in my opinion, it definitely pays off!

The point of no return for the patient

Teresa’s case (fictitious name for privacy) was undoubtedly special.

Teresa was 49 years old, an Accounting Administrator and came to the Clinic to change a situation that had been dragging on for a long time and which she was aware that had reached a point where a drastic intervention would be necessary, if she wanted to keep her teeth.

Basic procedures

Before the Rehabilitation, many hours were spent treating Cavities, Endodontics, Oral Higiene , in an exhaustive teamwork saving teeth that, in some cases, seemed to be lost. No teeth were extracted. 

Oral rehabilitation

Meanwhile impressions were done and the models were sent to the laboratory where the major transformation was designed, creating a mock-up of the final result with the new shape and alignment of the teeth.

In an appointment that lasted several hours, the teeth of both arches were prepared, gum regularization surgery (gingivoplasty), impressions were performed and the temporaries were placed with the new “look” to test how what had been designed fitted the patient’s mouth and face.

Several Fixed Prosthesis techniques were used: Ceramic Veneers, Ceramic Crowns and Zirconium Bridges which, as a whole, created a natural aesthetic and corrected the various changes in occlusion (the way the teeth fit together) that Teresa presented.

The result could not have made us happier and the change, which was dramatic, gave the patient the smile she had never had, respecting the rules of aesthetics and function and therefore being very natural.  

How did Teresa live this whole process?

I know you have a long history of dental problems. Tell us a little about this story

I remember that when I was still a little girl, I started going to the dentist many times and they always wanted to pull out teeth . I was lucky, my mother wouldn’t let them, otherwise I wouldn’t have any teeth now.

When I was 18, I went through a major treatment, convinced that it would mean that I would lose my teeth.

Fortunately it wasn’t like that and the Dentist fixed the whole mouth without pulling teeth out. After that, I had another major intervention about 14 years ago and, in the meanwhile, there was always something going on, a new cavity , a tooth that was “falling apart”.

How did you feel about your smile?

(Silence…) Lately I know that I was more aware of my teeth because they were really degraded and I started to hide them with my upper lip to disguise it.

How did you find us?

At the beginning I was still looking for a Doctor to do the same procedures that had been done previously, but then I thought: this is already so bad, that it will no longer withstand any more patches and everything will fall apart.

So I changed tactics: now this is going to have to be an extreme makeover. I went on the Net looking for a place that was close to me, so I wouldn’t go to who knows where, and that would be a Specialist in the area to do this makeover.

What made you choose us?

I more or less tried to get away from those big franchised Clinics that are now everywhere and that didn’t inspire confidence in me. I liked your small, personalized Clinic better, more dedicated to this area.

How was your experience during this radical change, which involved so many treatments?

It went well.

And now that we’re done are you happy with the results?

I am very happy, although at the beginning, it took me a little while to get used to the new image of the upper teeth. It’s not that they weren’t beautiful and natural, which they were, but they were so different from my teeth all my life… I was surprised but now these are “my teeth”, they don’t have that “OK, this is all fake” look.

What has this change brought to your life?

I feel much more at ease, I no longer have to hide my smile.

Do others notice that you are different?

As everyone more or less knew that I was doing this, they noticed and liked it.

After 6 years the patient keeps her smile

This case is already about 6 years old and since then the patient only needs to return to the clinic every 6 months for the Oral Hygiene appointment and once a year for Check-up. Oral Hygiene at home is essential to maintain good oral health, it is not enough to deliver good treatments, it is necessary to involve the patient in their daily maintenance at home. At our clinic we take this issue very seriously thus the important role of the Oral Hygienist has as a member of the team.

I am passionate about my work and cases like this one keep me motivated even after more than 30 years of clinical practice.