Volume 14, Number 2 -- November 2001

TEETH IN A DAY^TM in the Upper Jaw

TJ Balshi and GJ Wolfinger

Post-operative

At the day after surgery postop call, the patient reported the normally acceptable levels of facial swelling as anticipated by the nature of these procedures. The patient followed postop instructions with the use of Ice packs and the appropriate medications to help control the swelling.

Two weeks following surgery the patient returned for suture removal and occlusal evaluation. The swelling had completely subsided and slight adjustments could then be made to the occlusion in an effort to establish even contact and force distribution for the anterior region. With the surgical swelling diminished, the patient was even more delighted with the restoration of her facial appearance and the beautiful smile demonstrating both function and artistically attractive TEETH IN A DAY^TM esthetics (Fig 7).

Five months after the initial surgery, the construction of the prosthesis for the mandibular implants took place. The maxilla was permitted to heal for an additional time. Eight months after the initial surgery the patient underwent the second stage surgery for the two maxillary right implants that had been left submerged. At that time the final impression, of all the maxillary implants, was made for construction of the maxillary porcelain fused to gold custom designed tissue integrated prosthesis that was delivered two weeks later (Fig 8 a,b,c, Fig 9 a,b,c, Fig 2). A hard acrylic occlusal guard was also constructed to help manage the patient's bruxing and clenching habits.