RECONSTRUCTIVE DENTISTRY

Reconstructive dentistry is a bio-engineering project. The teeth of the upper and lower jaw must function in three dimensions in harmony with two temporomandibular joints. Tooth positioning and shape impact on your speech and appearance. A reconstruction case has to be carefully designed and executed in a coordinated series of appointments. Most any dentist can provide a full mouth of crowns or veneers if tackled in groups of four teeth at a time. Tackling a reconstruction case in such a manner will result in a sadly compromised result. The correct way to treat a reconstructive case is prepare all of the teeth and/or implants in a planned series of appointments and make temporary restorations. When the preparations are completed full arch impressions and a centric relation record at a selected vertical dimension of occlusion established. The majority of such cases require a degree of bite-opening. Casts of the prepared teeth are made and all 28-32 restorations are made together. All the restorations are then cemented or bonded at the same appointment. This is a real full-mouth reconstruction. Anything else is just a bunch of crowns or veneers destinated to fail prematurely. Only prosthodontists who have also been trained as master technicians are able to provide this sophisticated type of treatment known as advanced prosthodontics. Do it once, do it well , do it Wright.  

TEETH FOR LIFE    

We aim to restore and maintain your dentition for life    

Throughout the civilised world, people are living longer, more active lives and want to keep their dentitions. Americans say that "50" is the new "40" in terms of health and attitude. More people are choosing to work well past the traditional age of 65 and still compete in the commercial and social marketplace. Loosing one's teeth results in a loss of confidence, diminished ability to eat certain foods and rapidly ages your facial appearance. Saving your natural dentition maintains your facial apearance, boosts self-esteem and sex appeal.  

Reconstructive dentistry involves restoring all remaining teeth and replacing missing ones with bridgework or dental implants. A well-executed, dental reconstruction can last more than twenty years. The restorations can remain on the teeth beyond twenty years, however, the gums can still recede exposing darker root surfaces, which are prone to decay. The majority of people in their sixties from civilised countries are taking multiple medications. These medications reduce salivary quality and flow making the teeth more prone to decay. Re-treatment of the previously restored dentition is the most diffficult task in dentistry. More than half of the patients whom Dr. Wright restores are for re-treatment of failed or poorly planned and executed dental treatment. Some of these restorations have been in place for less than one year. Even in the absence of financial restrictions, it is not always possible to restore these cases and some or all teeth must be extracted. We recommend that all patients considering aesthetic or remedial reconstructive dentistry seek the services of a reputable prosthodontist. Do it once, do it well, do it right!  

Biomechanical & Aesthetic Reconstructive Dentistry

Reconstructive dentistry is a bio-engineering project and it can look like it. The real challenge is to achieve an aesthetic result whilst having the restored case stand up to the enormous loads of mastication and parafunctional activity. That is our objective. When it comes to implant dentistry it is even more important that your case is bio-engineered to realistic tolerances. Dr. Wright does not feel that he can achieve an aesthetic result with the case he will decline to take it on as there will be little or no personal satisfaction when completed.

COMBINATION DENTURE & BRIDGEWORK

In many situations, a patient may only have a few remaining teeth but has not yet come to grips with losing them in favour of complete dentures or dental implants. In other situations, the cost of implant dentistry is prohibitive and a partial denture is an acceptable alternative. Partial denture combination cases may sometimes be the treatment of choice where there has been severe bone loss and grafting is not feasible or the patient is unable to go through the associated numerous surgeries, physically or emotionally. These combination cases are precision bio-engineering projects that must be meticulously planned and executed. As it is only the outside (facial) surfaces of the teeth that are usually seen, all of the gold alloy can be designed to be hidden so as to provide an aesthetic result. Even in the absence of financial restraints, occasionally a more aesthetic result can be achieved with removable partial dentures. This is particularly true in cases where significant bone and soft tissue has been lost and needs to be replaced with acrylic. Speech (phonetics) is often better with partial dentures in certain clinical situations. Loss of bone is followed by loss of gum and muscle tone. Acrylic flanges can be built up on implant denture prostheses to support the face and lips and restore that dentate appearance back to the patient. We can achieve remarkable facial changes with removable prostheses that cannot otherwise be done with fixed implant restorations.

Restoration of the Severely Worn Dentition

These are some of the most challenging cases to treat and fall exclusively within the domain of the prosthodontist. Dr. Wright welcomes referrals of such cases from his colleagues. Dr. Wright receives great satisfaction from treating these particular dentitions as it requires all the skill and knowledge acquired in the prosthodontic training program to be put to the test. Tooth wear like this is becoming more common as people retain their teeth longer and are more reluctant to opt for dentures as did their parents. Early referral before there has been 20% of tooth surface loss will greatly improve the prognosis for treatment. The aetiology of tooth wear can be carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, gastro-intestinal acid reflux, attrition, bulimia and parafunctional habits.