An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a regional specialist surgeon treating the entire craniomaxillofacial complex: anatomical area of the mouth, jaws, face, skull, as well as associated structures.
In the US, the name oral and maxillofacial surgery should be abbreviated most appropriately as OMS, rather than OMFS as some sources suggest. The abbreviation OMFS may be appropriate only in the European system where Maxillo-Facial is hyphenated. In the US, maxillofacial is the official entry in the American language dictionary defining the anatomical region, and is also the official term used by all related surgical organizations, including the AAOMS, ABOMS, and ACOMS.
Maxillofacial surgeons are usually initially qualified in dentistry and have undergone further surgical training. Some OMS residencies integrate a medical education as well and an appropriate degree in medicine (MBBS or MD or equivalent) is earned, although in the United States there is legally no difference in what a dual degree OMS can do compared to someone who earned a four year certificate. Oral & maxillofacial surgery is universally recognized as a one of the nine specialties of dentistry. However also in the UK and many other countries OMFS is a medical specialty as well culminating in the FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons). Regardless, all oral & maxillofacial surgeons must obtain a degree in dentistry (BDS, BDent, DDS, or DMD or equivalent) before being allowed to begin residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
They also may choose to undergo further training in a 1 or 2 year subspecialty fellowship training in the following areas:
Head and neck cancer – microvascular reconstruction
Cosmetic facial surgery
Craniofacial surgery/Pediatric Maxillofacial surgery
Cranio-maxillofacial trauma
Head and neck reconstruction (plastic surgery of the head and neck region)
Maxillofacial regeneration(reformation of the facial region by advanced stem cell technique)
The popularity of oral and maxillofacial surgery as a career for persons whose first degree was medicine, not dentistry, seems to be increasing in few EU countries However the public fund spend for 14 years of training is a big concern of the state. Integrated programs are becoming more available to medical graduates allowing them to complete the dental degree requirement in about 3 years in order for them to advance to subsequently complete Oral and Maxillofacial surgical training.
Surgical procedures
Treatments may be performed on the craniomaxillofacial complex: mouth, jaws, neck, face, skull, and include:
Dentoalveolar surgery (surgery to remove impacted teeth, difficult tooth extractions, extractions on medically compromised patients, bone grafting or preprosthetic surgery to provide better anatomy for the placement of implants, dentures, or other dental prostheses)
Diagnosis and treatment of benign pathology (cysts, tumors etc.)
Diagnosis and treatment (ablative and reconstructive surgery, microsurgery) of malignant pathology (oral & head and neck cancer).
Diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous malignancy (skin cancer), lip reconstruction
Diagnosis and treatment of congenital craniofacial malformations such as cleft lip and palate and cranial vault malformations such as craniosynostosis, (craniofacial surgery)
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic facial pain disorders
Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Diagnosis and treatment of dysgnathia (incorrect bite), and orthognathic (literally “straight bite”) reconstructive surgery, orthognathic surgery, maxillomandibular advancement, surgical correction of facial asymmetry.
Diagnosis and treatment of soft and hard tissue trauma of the oral and maxillofacial region (jaw fractures, cheek bone fractures, nasal fractures, LeFort fracture, skull fractures and eye socket fractures).
Splint and surgical treatment of sleep apnea, maxillomandibular advancement, genioplasty (in conjunction with sleep labs or physicians)
Surgery to insert osseointegrated (bone fused) dental implants and Maxillofacial implants for attaching craniofacial prostheses and bone anchored hearing aids.
Cosmetic surgery limited to the head and neck: (rhytidectomy/facelift, browlift, blepharoplasty/Asian blepharoplasty, otoplasty, rhinoplasty, septoplasty, cheek augmentation, chin augmentation, genioplasty, oculoplastics, neck liposuction, lip enhancement, injectable cosmetic treatments, botox, chemical peel etc.)
A dental implant is a small “anchor” made of titanium. It is inserted into the jawbone to take the place of your missing tooth root. After Osseointegration, or when the surrounding bone has attached to the implant, a replacement tooth is secured to the top of the implant. The new tooth looks, feels, and performs just like your natural teeth.
Dental implants can be used in a variety of situations, whether you need to replace a single missing tooth or many teeth. They can even be used to replace a full denture. As anchor points, implants can also securely attach a partial denture or bridge.
What are the benifits of dental implant?
Choosing implants offers you a number of significant advantages including:
More healthful and beautiful: When teeth are missing, the surrounding bone begins to shrink. This unhealthy bone loss can make your jawline recede. Dental implants can help prevent deterioration of the jawbone caused by loss of teeth, so your face retains its natural shape. As an alternative to bridgework, dental implants eliminate the need to grind down healthy teeth when replacing one or more adjacent teeth. More comfortable: Because dental implants are securely anchored, there is no slipping or movement as there is with dentures. This eliminates some of the key worries of dentures, including poor fit, gum irritation, and pain from exposed nerves. More confident: With dental implants, you will never need to cover your mouth when laughing, smiling, or speaking. You can eat your favorite foods without pain or fear of embarrassment – and taste every bite. You will look better, feel better, and live more confidently.
Are you the candidate for dental implants?
If you’re healthy enough to have a tooth extracted, you’re probably healthy enough to have an implant – whether your missing teeth are the result of injury, disease, or decay. General good health and adequate bone in the jaw are the key requirements. Your doctor can tell you if implants are right for you.
What is involved in implant procedure?
The dental implant process involves several steps that take place over a time period that averages from four to nine months. The typical process will include:
Initial implant placement:This procedure is typically performed in your dentist’s office under either a local or a general anesthesia. Your doctor places the implant into your jaw. Over the next several months, bone will attach to the surface of the implant anchoring it into position. Depending on your particular case, an additional minor procedure creates an opening through which your artificial tooth will emerge. Implant prosthetic attachment: During this phase, your dentist painlessly attaches a prosthetic “post” from Zimmer Dental to the implant. A simple impression will be taken and over the next few days an artificial tooth will be created for a functional natural restoration.
Implants can improve your appearance, confidence and freedom
Since dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, they naturally enhance your appearance. More importantly, the securely attached implant gives you the confidence of eating what you like, speaking easily and clearly, and freedom from embarrassment. And, by following a regular routine of careful oral hygiene and regular checkups, your implants can last for many years.
To find out if implants are a solution for you, ask your doctor to evaluate you today.
They are the last molar (or third molar) that usually erupt at the age of 18 to 25 years old (and sometimes older). The eruption of the tooth may cause pain in some of the cases. There are usually 4 wisdom teeth in each person. However, in some cases not every tooth will erupt into the oral cavity.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When a wisdom tooth cannot erupted properly either it tilt to the front or back or half-way jammed it is consider as impacted. The impaction cause severe pain especially when the tooth is erupting. This prevents the patient from open his mouth wide or eat properly. Sometimes it interferes with his daily activities. Impaction of wisdom tooth also will cause food trap easily (between the second last molar and wisdom teeth) which will result in decay at the second molar.
Impacted wisdom teeth can be divided into one of several categories. Mesioangular impaction is the most common form (44%), and means the tooth is angled forward, towards the front of the mouth. Vertical impaction (38%) occurs when the formed tooth does not erupt fully through the gum line. Distoangular impaction (6%) means the tooth is angled backward, towards the rear of the mouth. And finally, Horizontal impaction (3%) is the least common form, which occurs when the tooth is angled fully ninety degrees sideways, growing into the roots of the second molar.
Impacted wisdom teeth may also be categorized on whether they are still completely encased in the jawbone. If it is completely encased in the jawbone, it is a bony impaction. If the wisdom tooth has erupted out of the jawbone but not through the gumline, it is called a soft tissue impaction. Sometimes the wisdom tooth fails to erupt completely through the gum bed and the gum at the back of the wisdom tooth extends over the biting surface, forming a soft tissue flap or lid around the tooth called an operculum. Teeth covered by an operculum can be difficult to clean with a toothbrush.
Signs and Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Usually impacted wisdom teeth are presented with:
Pain
Gum SwellingCheek swelling
pain (may disturb sleep and may extend to the back, neck and head)
unable to open the mouth big due to pain
infection of the gum around the wisdom tooth
swelling on the gum
swelling on the cheek of the affected side
fever
Consequence of impacted wisdom teeth
Impacted wisdom tooth can lead to:
Acute gum infection or pericoronitis that happens around the wisdom tooth (Most common).
Infection on the pulp or pulpitis in the wisdom teeth due to decay
Infection on the pulp or pulpitis in the second molar due to prolong food trap that causes dental caries.
Infection on the bone or osteomylitis which occur if infection spread into the bone.
Infection around the facial tissue or cellulitis. This happens when the infection spread into the soft tissue around the facial region (Below).
Facial cellulitis
Gum abcess – if pus present in the gum or facial abcess if it’s in the face region
Gum problem or periodontitis around wisdom tooth and second molar.
Treatment Options
1. Leave it – If the symptoms are very mild, usually with some mouth rinse and the pain will subside. However, sometimes the pain may come back due to re-infection. 2. Take antibiotic and pain killer – Again the symptoms will subside however re-infection still can occur.
Antibiotics
3. Incisional and Drainage – Removing of the pus accumulated either in the gum or facial region then followed by removing of the wisdom tooth. 4. Operculectomy – Removing the gum that cover the wisdom tooth for easy cleaning. However, sometimes the gum might grow back and infection can re-occur
Operculectomy procedure
5. Extraction – Removing the wisdom tooth (surgery or without surgery)
Extraction
6. Root canal treatment – On the second molar if the pulp is infected and the wisdom tooth required to be removed.
Indication of Wisdom teeth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are extracted for two general reasons: either the wisdom teeth have already become impacted, or the wisdom teeth could potentially become problematic if not extracted. Potential problems caused by the presence of properly grown-in wisdom teeth include infections caused by food particles easily trapped in the jaw area behind the wisdom teeth where regular brushing and flossing is difficult and ineffective. Such infections may be frequent, and cause considerable pain and medical danger.
According to NICE (The National Institute for Clinical Excellence – UK), the routine practice of prophylactic removal of pathology-free impacted third molar should be discontinued. Third molar should be removed if there is evidence of pathology includes unrestorable caries, non-treatable pulpal and/or periapical pathology, cellulitis, abcess and osteomyelitis, internal/external resorption of the tooth or adjacent teeth, fracture of tooth, disease of follicle including cyst/tumour, tooth/teeth impeding surgery or reconstructive jaw surgery, and when a tooth is involved in or within the field of tumour resection.
Pericoronitis
The degree to which the severity or recurrence rate of pericoronitis should influence the decision for surgical removal of a third molar remains unclear. The evidence suggests that a first episode of pericoronitis, unless particularly severe, should not be considered an indication for surgery. Second or subsequent episodes should be considered the appropriate indication for surgery.
Surgery or Not Surgery?
When a wisdom tooth erupts vertically just like the second molar and the access is easily, then extraction of the tooth will be straight forward case. Usually the surgeon will loosen the tooth and grip the tooth with a forceps to remove it.
Horizontal impaction of wisdom tooth
However, most of the impacted wisdom tooth is embedded in the bone, tilted either forward or backward. Sometimes the tooth is in a horizontal position instead of vertical. This will make extraction with forceps impossible. Therefore, surgery is required.
Surgical Removal of Wisdom Tooth
Usually done by a oral surgeon (Specialist) or an experience dentist and it should be done in a sterile manner. After injections are given, a small cut will be made on the gum to expose the wisdom tooth and bone surrounding it. Then some bone near to the tooth will be removed to allow instrument to engage with the tooth. Next, the tooth will be sectioned into half or more and the fragment of tooth will be removed.
After the whole tooth was removed completely, the socket will be cleaned and the surgeon will inspect the wound to make it is clean and bleeding stop. Finally, the gum will be held together by stitches and the patient will be allowed to go home with gauze, pain killer and antibiotic. Usually the whole process takes about an hour or less.
For Anxiety Patient…
If in a case of an anxious patient come for wisdom tooth surgery, usually, we will prescribe some medication of reduce anxiety before the surgery or patient will have to inhale nitrous oxide during the procedure so that he/she will feel relax and calm all the time during surgery. If the patient is extremely phobia of surgery, then he can opt for surgery done under general anaesthesia which required hospitalization.
What Do I Need to Do During Recovery?
After your wisdom teeth are removed you may experience some swelling and mild discomfort, which are normal symptoms and are part of the healing process. Here is what to expect after the procedure. 1) The First 24 Hours:
Bleeding: This may occur for several hours after your wisdom teeth are removed. To control it, place a piece of clean moist gauze or moistened tea bag over the empty tooth socket and bite down firmly. This needs to be done for about 45 minutes. You should avoid rinsing, spitting or sucking actions for 24 hours after your wisdom teeth are removed. For example, don’t drink beverages through straws or smoke, and avoid hot liquids (such as soup or tea). You should also avoid carbonated and alcoholic drinks. These activities can cause the clot to dislodge, which will cause dry socket.
Facial Swelling: This can occur where the wisdom tooth was extracted. You can apply a cold compress to ease the swelling and pain. Cold compress(ice packs) should be used 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. Repeat as necessary during this first 24-hour period. Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil, etc.) if you have a stomach ulcer.
Pain: Medications such as Mefenamic Acid (Ponstan) or Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) can be taken to manage your pain. We may prescribe more potent pain relievers, such as narcotics, if necessary.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be prescribed post-treatment and should be taken until you have finished the prescription.
Food: Avoid hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours. When the extraction is more difficult, you will need to consume a soft or liquid diet for at least 24 hours after removal of your wisdom teeth.
Brush your Teeth: You need to continue to brush your teeth, but avoid the teeth adjacent to the extracted tooth during the first 24 hours. On day two, you can resume the gentle brushing of your teeth. However, do not use commercial mouth rinses because these can irritate the area of extraction. 2) After 24 Hours:
Facial Swelling: Facial Swelling in the area of your wisdom tooth extraction needs to be man aged with heat after the first 24 hours of ice. Use a moist warm towel and apply it to the area on a 20-minute on, 20-minute off schedule. Repeat as necessary.
Rinse Your Mouth with Warm Salt Water: Use 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water after before bed and after meals. Do not use commercial mouth rinses.
Complete Healing: This will not occur for a few weeks to a few months following the removal of your wisdom teeth. However, usually within the first week or two, you will feel reasonably comfortable because enough healing has taken place. We will explain what to expect regarding your healing process.
Complication of Wisdom Tooth Surgery
1) The usual problem the patient will experience after surgery
Pain on surgical site
Limited mouth opening
Swelling around the cheek
Bruise over the cheek (not usual)
2) Complication (Rare!!)
Infection on surgical site (Higher risk for smoker and diabetic patient)
Lower jaw fracture (Will only happens in very thin jaw or a rough surgery)
Bleeding (Can be from arteries which usually can be controlled with compression)
Injury to nerve (Damage to the nerve will happens when the wisdom tooth is very near to the nerve and the event of removing it cause injury to the nerve. This will result in numbness on the lower lipand usually it takes 6-12 months to recover.)
Dental implant is an artificial root of the tooth used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth.
All dental implants today (21st century) are root-form and they are placed inside the bone (endosseous implant). Prior to the advent of root-form endosseous implants, most implants were either blade endosseous implants, in that the shape of the metal piece placed within the bone resembled a flat blade, or subperiosteal implants, in which a framework was constructed
Implant is used to support a crown (for the case of missing a single tooth) or they can be used to support bridge or denture (for the case of multiple missing teeth) that are designed to look just like your natural teeth.
Dental implants are small screws made of pure titanium that are surgically implanted in your jaw.
They provide a permanent foundation for crowns, bridges and dentures.
They are proven technology backed up by more than 50 years of development.
Dental implants protect your jaw against bone loss.
Because dental implants anchor in the jawbone just like natural teeth, they are the best choice for natural-looking tooth replacement
Composition of an Implant
A typical implant consists of a titanium screw (resembling a tooth root) with a roughened or smooth surface. The majority of dental implants are made out of commercially pure titanium, which is available in 4 grades depending upon the amount of carbon and iron contained. More recently grade 5 titanium has increased in use which offers better tensile strength and fracture resistance. Implant surfaces may be modified by plasma spraying, anodizing, etching or sandblasting to increase the surface area and the integration potential of the implant.
Anatomy of Implant
Implant/Fixture – titanium material for osteo-integration with the surrounding bone. Abutment – structure which connects the implant to the crown and it is situated in the gum area. Crown – Usually porcelain fused to metal material that can be seen in the mouth. What is the difference between dental implant and natural tooth?
Who should perform the Implant placement?
Implant surgery may be performed as an outpatient under general anesthesia, oral conscious sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, intravenous sedation or under local anesthesia by trained and certified clinicians including general dentists, oral & maxillofacial surgeons, prosthodontists, and periodontists.
Surgical procedure
Surgical planning
Prior to commencement of surgery, careful and detailed planning is required. Two-dimensional radiographs, such as orthopantomographs (OPG) or periapicals radiograph are often taken prior to the surgery. They are used to identify vital structures (such as the inferior alveolar nerve or the sinus), as well as the shape and dimensions of the bone to properly orient the implants for the most predictable outcome. In some instances, a Cone beam tomogram (CBT) or CT scan will also be obtained.
Jaw X-ray — Dental Panaromic Tomogram (or OPG)
Cone Beam Images of the jaw bone
Implant placement procedure
In its most basic form the placement of an osseointegrated implant requires a preparation into the bone using either hand osteotomes or precision drills with highly regulated speed to prevent burning or pressure necrosis of the bone. After a variable amount of time to allow the bone to grow on to the surface of the implant (osseointegration) a tooth or teeth can be placed on the implant. The amount of time required to place an implant will vary depending on the experience of the surgeon, quality and quantity of the bone and the difficulty of the individual situation (usually between 30 minutes and 2 hours).
Preparation of recipient bone for implant insertion
Surgical procedure
An incision is made over the crest (highest point of the gum ridge) of the site where the implant is to be placed. The gum (which is referred to as a ‘flap’) was raised to exposed the recipient bone. Then, a pilot hole is bored into the bone, taking care to avoid the vital structures. Drilling into jawbone usually occurs in several separate steps. The pilot hole is expanded by using progressively wider drills (typically between three and seven successive drilling steps, depending on implant width and length). Care is taken not to damage the bone cells by overheating. A cooling saline or water spray keeps the temperature of the bone to below 47 degrees Celsius.
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Implant insertion into recipient bone
The implant screw can be self-tapping, and is screwed into place at a precise torque so as not to overload the surrounding bone (overloaded bone can die, a condition called osteonecrosis, which may lead to failure of the implant to fully integrate or bond with the jawbone). Typically in most implant systems, the osteotomy or drilled hole is about 1mm deeper than the implant being placed, due to the shape of the drill tip. Surgeons must take the added length into consideration when drilling in the vicinity of vital structures.
Before implant insertionAfter implant insertion on the upper right area
For Anxiety Patient…
If in a case of an anxious patient come for implant placement, usually, we will prescribe some medication of reduce anxiety before the surgery or patient will have to inhale nitrous oxide during the procedure so that he/she will feel relax and calm all the time during surgery. If the patient is extremely phobia of surgery, then he can opt for surgery done under general anaesthesia which required hospitalization.
Healing time
Practitioners usually allow 2–6 months for healing. If the implant is loaded too soon, it is possible that the implant may move which results in failure. The subsequent time to heal, possibly graft and eventually place a new implant may take up to eighteen months. For this reason many are reluctant to push the envelope for healing.
Wound healing – immediate after surgery
Wound healing – 7 days after surgery
One-stage or two-stage surgery?
When an implant is placed with a ‘healing abutment’, which comes through the mucosa (or the gum), it is referred as the one-stage surgery. (Picture above is one-stage surgery where the healing abutment – green and purple screw can be seen on the gum surface)
When an implant is placed with a ‘cover screw’ which is flush with the surface of the dental implant and usually hidden under with the gum, this surgery is referred as the two-stage surgery. A second surgery is needed 3 months later to exposed the cover screw and the cover-screw is to be placed with healing abutment. Two-stage surgery is sometimes chosen when a concurrent bone graft is placed or surgery on the mucosa may be required for esthetic reasons. Some implants are one piece so that no healing abutment is required.
In carefully selected cases patients can be implanted and restored in a single surgery, in a procedure labeled as “Immediate Placement“. In such cases a provisional prosthetic tooth or crown is shaped to avoid the force of the bite transferring to the implant while it integrates with the bone.
Surgical timing
There are different approaches to place dental implants after tooth extraction. The approaches are:
Immediate post-extraction implant placement.
Delayed immediate post-extraction implant placement (2 weeks to 3 months after extraction).
Late implantation (3 months or more after tooth extraction).
Restoration Procedure
For missing single tooth
Implants can be made to replace missing tooth or teeth. If an implant is used to replace one missing tooth, it is implant-supported crown.
Implant-supported crown is used to replaced a missing tooth
Multiple missing tooth
Implant-supported crown can be used to replaced multiple missing tooth. Every missing teeth will be replace with implants
Implant-supported crown
If in cases where the bone is too narrow and not suitable for implant placement then implant-supported bridge will be used to avoid those unsuitable area.
Implant supported bridge
Implant-supported bridge also can be used to reduce implant cost and surgical time!!
Impression taking
After the implant in well osteo-integrated with the surrounding bone, construction of the outer part — the crown/tooth procedure can be started. Usually it started with impression taking after the gum heals around the healing abutment.
Gum healing after a week with healing abutment in two-stage surgery
Impression is used to make a duplication of the gum and the implant position where the laboratory technician can fabricate crown/bridge outside patient’s mouth.
The impression transfer posts are inserted on the implant fixturesAnd impression of the gum and implant are taken with silicone material
Crown/Bridge fabrication
In the dental laboratory, porcelain fused to metal crowns or bridges are fabricated. Usually it takes about 2-3weeks to be done.
A model with implant is made from the silicone impression.On the model, crowns are fabricated and ready to be fit in patient mouth!!Another case with two implant-supported bridges
Restoration of crown/bridge in the mouth
There are basically 2 types of ways by which the crowns/bridges that can be attached to the implant: Screwed retained – The crowns/bridges are retained in the mouth with screw that screw into the abutment. The advantage of using this way is easy to be removed when ever need (eg. if the crown break or the abutment become loosen). However, the aesthetic will be compromised. Usually screwed retained method is used in posterior region where aesthetic is not an issue or in straight abutment type. Cemented retained – The crowns/bridges are cemented onto the abutment with cement such as temp-bond, GIC etc. The advantages is very good aesthetic. Usually used in the anterior region or in angle abutment type.
Below are the procedures of installing the final restoration of a screw-retained type:
After removing the healing abutment, the implant ‘hole’ will be assessed
The abutments are screwed into the implants with force 15Ncm
Then, the crowns are fit onto the abutments and the colour, shape and occlusion will be assessed
After that, crowns will be screw onto the abutments with force of 15Ncm
The hole at the palatal surface will be covered with filling material
Treatment Options for Replacing Missing Tooth/Teeth
Problems with missing tooth/teeth
As soon as a tooth is being removed, we have to think of the options available for replacing that missing tooth. Most of us don’t really know the consequences or future problems that are going to be faced by us resulting from tooth extraction. These are some of them:
1. Chewing efficiency decrease
The most common problem patient face immediately after extraction it lost of chewing efficiency. He will tends to chew more on the opposite side. If the extraction involved multiple teeth, then patient will have to switch to soft diet which might result in poor digestion and malnourished. Therefore replacement of missing teeth is crucial to regain back patient’s normal chewing.
2. Over eruption of opposite tooth
Over-eruption of upper molar tooth
Commonly happen after extraction of the lower molar causing the upper molar to erupt further downwards. This will result in food stagnant in the interproximal (in-between of the teeth) area making the teeth easily develop dental caries.
3. Migration of neighbour tooth
The neighbour teeth will migrate to the extraction site as soon as the tooth was remove. Usually, the patient will begin to notice it after a year or more. In some delayed cases, tooth extraction causes the front teeth to have multiple gaping which resulted in poor aesthetic. Both migration and supra-eruption of teeth will make restoration or replacement of the missing tooth difficult.
4. Bone lost
The gum become narrow due to bone loss after extraction
Alveolar bone lost significantly after missing teeth. As the result, the upper lip looks flatten due to lost of support from the anterior alveolus bone. Lost of bone also makes implant insertion difficult which might required bone harvesting before implant insertion.
5. Attrition of the remaining teeth
When patient loose most of his back teeth, he will try to use his front teeth to grind food and eventually all the front teeth will look much shorter due to attrition from chewing. Attrition also will make the teeth become sensitive to cold and sweet (dentinal hypersensitivity).
6. Over-closure of the mouth
As the result from attrition of front teeth and lost of posterior chewing, patient tends to over close his jaw. This will make his face shorter and his lip looks thin and easily get fungal infection at the corner of the mouth
7. Traumatic occlusion and Jaw joint dysfunction
Missing teeth will cause parafunction (abnormal) chewing. For example, when the back teeth are missing, the front teeth will be used for grind. This abnormal force will be exerted to the remaining teeth causing bone resorption around the teeth and lead to gum problem and loosening of teeth. Heavy and abnormal chew will also causing the TMJ (jaw) joint pain.
Due to abnormal function, the remaining teeth have a very high chance of fracture.
Conclusion
Delay in restoring missing teeth will result in:
1. Loss of chewing
2. Difficult in restoration/replacing missing teeth
3. Poor dental aesthetic – short teeth, teeth gaping, deep bite
4. Poor facial aesthetic – over closure, short face, chin protrusion
4. Prone to dental decay, gum problem, tooth fracture, dentine hypersensitivity
5. And finally, making you look older….
Smile!!
Treatment Options for Replacing Missing Tooth/Teeth
Advantages
1. Cheap
2. Complexity: Simple
3. No need needle injection
4. No need surgery (No pain)
5. Maintenance: Easy to take care
6. Treatment duration: Short 1 – 3 weeks
7. Easy to adjust, repair Disadvantages
1. Feel like not real (fake teeth) – can be removed from the mouth
2. Uncomfortable – Big and bulky
3. Palate coverage – less taste when eating
4. Lower ridge coverage – no space for the tongue
5. Teeth is made of plastic – easily worn off & stained
6. Easily trap food
7. For one missing tooth – wearer is not willing to wear it, very uncomfortable
8. Chewing food not the same as the natural teeth
9. Easily break
Advantages
1. Feel like real teeth – cannot be removed
2. Highly aesthetic – Look like natural teeth (with full porcelain), multiple shade to select
3. Very comfortable – No palate or lower ridge coverage
4. Teeth is made of porcelain – strong, durable
5. Good for missing one or a few teeth
6. Can correct the abutment teeth to a desirable shape and position
7. Chewing food almost as real as natural teeth
8. No need surgery Disadvantages
1. Price: Moderate
2. Complexity: Simple to complex
3. Required needle injection
4. Involved neighbour teeth – the neighbour teeth required to be ground for support
5. Easily trap food under the bridge
6. Maintenance: Difficult (Required to floss under the bridge)
7. Treatment duration: Medium 2 – 3 weeks
8. No suitable for cases such as free end saddle, fully or near to edentulous
Advantages
1. Feel like real teeth – porcelain is sitting on the implant
2. Highly aesthetic – Look like natural teeth (with full porcelain), multiple shade to select
3. Very comfortable – No palate or lower ridge coverage
4. Teeth is made of porcelain – strong, durable
5. Does not involve the neighbour teeth
6. Trap food: very minimal (just like natural teeth)
7. Maintenance: simple to take care (just like natural teeth)
8. Can replace missing teeth in edentulous and free end saddle
9. Chewing food almost as real as natural teeth Disadvantages
1. Price: Expensive
2. Complexity: Complex – required good planning
3. Duration of treatment: Long 3 – 6 months
4. Required needle injection
5. Required to undergo surgery (maybe required second or third surgery)
6. Required sinus augmentation, bone harvesting if not enough bone height for implant insertion (additional cost, additional surgery….additional pain)
7. Higher risk of failure in smoker, diabetic and medically compromised patient
8. Risk of injuring other structure during implant insertion: ID nerve, antrum
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