Pre-treatment: Knife-like edge of bony ridge. This patient had full upper and lower dentures. She was very unhappy with the lowers, as they moved around a lot and made chewing extremely difficult. She was miserable. We did a minimal implant treatment for her, placing just two implants and making a denture that snapped onto them, providing enough stabilization to allow her to eat her favorite foods once again. She was much happier when she finished treatment than when she came in! And esthetically, they look great!
Notice the sharp edge of the top of the bony ridge. This can make denture wear extremely uncomfortable.
Alveoloplasty (filing down of the bony ridges) was done here to flatten out the top of the ridge and widen it, so allow for definitive implant placement.
The two implants in place (day of surgery).
X-ray of the implants 4 months after placement. They’re now stabilized in solid bone and ready to be used to support some new teeth.
The fully healed implants with Locator {brand} abutments in place. (There are special Locator attachments that fit inside the denture itself, which come in different strengths/colors and need to be changed from time to time, with wear.)
View of underside of the denture. The one on the left (blue) shows the Locator attachment. The other side (black) shows where that blue snap is attached. These need to be changed from time to time. Some people who are harder on their teeth or who take them in and out a lot more frequently, need them changed more often. Some people have them replaced every 3 months, some people, every 8 or 9 months) This is an ongoing maintenance you’ll need to be aware of.
Close up view of dentures in place.
Smile view of dentures in place.
Pre-treatment: Knife-like edge of bony ridge. This patient had full upper and lower dentures. She was very unhappy with the lowers, as they moved around a lot and made chewing extremely difficult. She was miserable. We did a minimal implant treatment for her, placing just two implants and making a denture that snapped onto them, providing enough stabilization to allow her to eat her favorite foods once again. She was much happier when she finished treatment than when she came in! And esthetically, they look great!
Notice the sharp edge of the top of the bony ridge. This can make denture wear extremely uncomfortable.
Alveoloplasty (filing down of the bony ridges) was done here to flatten out the top of the ridge and widen it, so allow for definitive implant placement.
The two implants in place (day of surgery).
X-ray of the implants 4 months after placement. They’re now stabilized in solid bone and ready to be used to support some new teeth.
The fully healed implants with Locator {brand} abutments in place. (There are special Locator attachments that fit inside the denture itself, which come in different strengths/colors and need to be changed from time to time, with wear.)
View of underside of the denture. The one on the left (blue) shows the Locator attachment. The other side (black) shows where that blue snap is attached. These need to be changed from time to time. Some people who are harder on their teeth or who take them in and out a lot more frequently, need them changed more often. Some people have them replaced every 3 months, some people, every 8 or 9 months) This is an ongoing maintenance you’ll need to be aware of.
