Today, a general dentist referred a patient to me for implant placement because she had lost most of her back teeth at a young age.
After examining the patient and discussing her goals and desires, she expressed interest in having a beautiful, healthy smile and back teeth to chew properly.
Education is always the first step
During our discussion, I explained to the patient that implant surgery is generally one of the last steps in dental care because an implant placed in bone is fixed and cannot be altered. Any hopeless teeth, along with all other orthodontic and restorative procedures, should be finalized before restoring the empty spaces.
In this specific case, the patient had significant crowding and malpositioned teeth that needed correction. She could benefit from the empty spaces she has to allow for proper teeth positioning before restoring the spaces with implants.
Teeth should last a lifetime. Quick fixes don’t
The patient could have opted to restore her empty spaces right away, but I explained that short-term solutions aren’t always the best for her long-term dental health, especially to maintain a healthy smile and dentition. After reassuring her that age wouldn’t be a barrier to successful orthodontic treatment, she became enthusiastic about the plan to complete her restorative treatment, undergo orthodontic care, and then return for implant placement.
Discount dentistry costs you more later
A narrow-minded approach to dental treatment or a focus on quick profits, rather than taking the time to educate the patient, often leads to suboptimal outcomes. When patients are presented with all possible treatment options and their respective outcomes, they tend to choose the best option, regardless of cost and time, to achieve a healthy, long-term smile.