I had the pleasure of assisting a sweet and highly cooperative patient who had been wearing both upper and lower dentures for many years. However, she was experiencing significant issues with the retention of her lower denture due to severe resorption of the lower jawbone. This not only made it challenging for her to enjoy food but also affected her ability to speak comfortably.

In this case, there were only four remaining lower front teeth, and their prognosis was quite poor. Given the extent of bone resorption in the lower jaw, the minimum standard for a lower denture was to consider implant support, typically involving two implants for an implant-supported overdenture.

To address these concerns, we meticulously planned the placement of two implants in the lower arch, which were expertly placed in the lower canine regions by our oral surgeon, Sam. After allowing two months for the initial implants to integrate properly, we proceeded with the extraction of the remaining four front teeth. During this time, we added them to the patient's existing denture, meaning she only had to tolerate a loose denture for a couple of months while we waited for all the extraction sites to heal.

Following the successful healing of the extraction sites, we were able to move forward and create the definitive dentures. This involved an acrylic upper full denture and a lower full denture supported by the two implants. These new dentures not only addressed the patient's functional concerns but also significantly improved her smile and facial appearance.

The patient was immensely relieved and happy with the results. The restoration of her mouth to the correct facial height, along with the well-fitting dentures that provided support to her lips, made her appear much younger, taking almost 10 years off her face. This case is a testament to the life-changing impact of dental solutions and the restoration of not only oral function but also a patient's confidence and overall well-being.