I had the pleasure of treating an incredibly chic patient who was exceptionally conscientious about her smile. Despite her age, she barely seemed to show it. She had previously been advised that there wasn't enough bone available for dental implants and was eager to bid farewell to her dentures.

This case presented a significant challenge as the absence of lower back teeth had caused the patient's upper back teeth to shift downward over the years. This shift resulted in what is commonly referred to as a "reverse smile" and a noticeable loss of facial height.

To address these concerns, we initiated the treatment with tooth whitening to address the patient's dissatisfaction with the color of her teeth. Additionally, we replaced all discolored white fillings on her lower front teeth to enhance their appearance.

Following these initial steps, we proceeded with the extraction of several upper teeth and devised a comprehensive plan to correct the smile and restore facial height using both upper and lower dentures. Once this phase was successfully completed, we planned for the placement of four dental implants in the most optimal positions in the upper jaw.

On the day of surgery, our implant surgeon, Sam, performed the extraction of most of the remaining teeth in the upper jaw, leaving only one tooth on either side to temporarily support the upper denture. This temporary measure was taken until we could fabricate a definitive upper implant full arch bridge in approximately six months. Due to compromised bone in certain areas, we opted not to immediately load the implants, as is our usual practice.

Once the implants had fully integrated into the jawbone, we replaced the upper denture with a full arch implant bridge that was supported by the four implants. Additionally, we introduced a lower partial chrome denture to replace the missing lower teeth.

The patient's joy and satisfaction with the outcome were evident. Not only did she experience a more relaxed facial appearance, but her smile was also notably improved and no longer appeared over-closed. This transformation took an estimated decade off the patient's overall appearance. This case exemplifies the life-changing impact of dental solutions and the substantial improvements they can make in both aesthetics and oral function, ultimately enhancing a patient's quality of life.