Problem:
The patient had a cricket accident some years ago which caused the tooth to die and require root canal treatment and a crown (cap). After many years the weakened tooth split and could no longer be saved and therefore required extraction (removal). The patient was then faced with a gap in his smile.
Treatment:
An denture implant funded mostly through ACC was placed.
This process involves two dental health professions: a periodontist (gum specialist) and a general dental practitioner (myself). I made a partial plastic denture (removable fake tooth) for the patient to wear after the tooth was removed so the gap would not be visible. The periodontist then extracted the tooth and placed an implant into the bone hidden under the gum. The implant is left for some months for the bone to heal around the implant and lock it in place.
Once stable, I took an impression of the implant and gum and sent it to a laboratory for the visible part of the tooth to be made. I then attached the tooth to the implant and the patient is now able to have a functional and aesthetically pleasing tooth once again.
Note: The yellow tooth to the left will eventually have a veneer so all the front teeth are the same colour.
How long it took:
Implant placement and healing time varies between people but normally the entire process takes 7 months. During the healing time no gap is visible as the patient wears the small denture.