PROBLEM:
Dale Godfrey, 61 years old of San Diego, California, had serious dental problems due to years of natural gum degeneration and teeth grinding. Most of his upper back teeth were missing, and five remaining teeth at the front of his mouth had serious gum disease. Godfrey had been wearing a removable partial denture to manage these problems. But, as he explained, this solution had a number of disadvantages. The dentures were uncomfortable to wear, unnatural to use, as well as difficult to clean and maintain. Godfrey's biggest complaints were the difficulties he experienced in speaking and enjoying food.

SOLUTION:
Mr. Godfrey's dental hygienist referred him to A Certain Smile in La Jolla, California, one of the nation's leading specialized clinics for dental implants and dental healthcare for seniors. Prosthodontist Dr. Ian Aires, DDS, and Oral Surgeon Dr. Joel Berger, DDS, MD, are the co-founders of A Certain Smile. Both doctors are internationally recognized for their expertise and research in immediate loading, an innovative dental implant procedure that presently can now be completed in three hours.

"Dental implants were the solution I was looking for to permanently replace my dentures," said Mr. Godfrey. "I was excited about my ability to again enjoy the comfort, confidence and beauty of natural-looking and natural-feeling teeth."

THE TREATMENT PLAN:
Ten dental implants were placed and a fixed provisional bridge cemented in one visit.

Mr. Godfrey's dental implant procedure was performed in four steps:

Step 1: Remove the remaining natural teeth in affected areas.
Five remaining affected teeth were extracted to prepare the area for Mr. Godfrey's 10 implants.

Step 2: Reconstruct the upper jawbone area to replace degenerative bone.
Reconstructive surgery was performed on Mr. Godfrey's upper jawbone to allow proper fitting of the implants. This step was performed on the same day as the implant procedure.

Step 3: Place implants in the affected areas.
At this stage, seven implants were attached to Mr. Godfrey's cemented provisional bridge (i.e., the temporary support mechanism).

Step 4: Permanently replace of the provisional bridge with a definitive porcelain bridge.
After six months, the three remaining implants were attached to the new definitive porcelain bridge. The definitive porcelain bridge was then fabricated and cemented to allow for permanent functioning of the 10 implants.

The Results:
Mr. Dale Godfrey now enjoys the beauty, comfort and confidence of permanent teeth.

"The treatment and care provided by A Certain Smile were exceptional," he said. "The results have been great. I feel an amazing difference."



About Dr. Ian Aires, D.D.S.
About Dr. Joel Berger, D.D.S., M.D.