Nigel’s Dental Rehabilitation

Nigel came to us with a loose upper bridge and severely worn-down teeth due to years of neglect. After carefully restoring his teeth with an upper overdenture and lower denture, Nigel regained his ability to chew, speak, and smile. This transformation inspired him to take better care of his dental health, becoming a regular visitor to the dentist.

Nigel came to us with a loose upper bridge and severely worn-down lower teeth. He had also lost his back teeth in both the upper and lower jaw. Nigel admitted that he hadn’t seen a dentist in many years. When we removed his upper bridge, we discovered that all the teeth underneath were decayed.

Why Bridges Can Fail:

Large bridges can fail if patients don’t clean underneath them properly and not attending for regular dental check-ups can let this problem go unnoticed for many years. Decay can start under the bridge where it’s hard to clean, and over time, it worsens until the teeth beneath the bridge become too damaged to hold it in place, causing the bridge to wobble and eventually fall out.

In Nigel’s case, losing his back teeth also meant that all the pressure from chewing was placed on his front teeth, which caused them to wear down severely.

The Importance of Regular Dental Visits:

Visiting the dentist every 6 months is essential to maintain stable oral health. Regular check-ups help catch potential issues early, preventing more significant problems and costly treatments down the road. This is especially important if you have any form of dental prosthesis. Regular visits ensure the prosthesis is functioning properly and that your natural teeth are not being negatively affected. Catching problems early significantly reduces the risk of tooth loss and more costs in the future.

Our Plan for Nigel:

Our goal was to save as many of his remaining teeth as possible and restore his ability to chew, speak, and smile. Here’s how we approached his treatment:

1. Upper Teeth: We removed the decayed upper bridge and found that 6 teeth were badly damaged. We had to extract 4 incisors but were able to save 2 teeth. These teeth were restored with metal crowns, which were used to help secure his new upper denture, which is called an overdenture.
2. Lower Teeth: His severely worn lower teeth were rebuilt using white filling material (composite), restoring their shape and function.
3. Replacing Missing Teeth: We replaced his missing back teeth with dentures:
   • Upper Overdenture: A plastic upper overdenture that clips onto his remaining teeth.
   • Lower Denture: A metal (chrome) lower denture for durability and comfort.

Final Outcome:

With an upper overdenture, composite build-ups for his lower teeth, and a sturdy lower chrome denture, Nigel’s mouth was fully restored. He regained his ability to chew properly and smile with confidence.

His attitude towards his dental health changed, and he became a regular attender at the dentist.

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