Patricia’s Last-Minute Save — A Full Smile Reclaimed

Background

Patricia had battled advanced periodontal disease for years. She was determined to hold onto her natural teeth for as long as possible, even as their condition progressively worsened. Despite her efforts—including ongoing dental care and maintenance—her teeth had reached the point where they were literally falling out, with one front tooth visibly hanging on by a thread.

Challenge

Patricia’s upper teeth were severely compromised, but the lower jaw had deteriorated even earlier. She wanted to delay full extractions as long as possible, holding out hope that her teeth could be saved. Unfortunately, the extent of bone and gum loss made it clear that traditional methods wouldn’t offer a stable, long-term solution. The challenge was to preserve her appearance and function through the transition — and to do so in a way that honored her strong desire to avoid dentures.

Solution

We started by restoring Patricia’s lower jaw first, as it was the most urgent. Using the All-on-4 technique, we replaced her remaining teeth with a fixed, full-arch bridge. Once her lower restoration had healed and was functioning well, she gave us the green light to move forward with the upper All-on-4 — after finally accepting that her upper teeth couldn’t be saved any longer.

With careful planning and digital smile design, we created a seamless transition from natural teeth to permanent implant bridges, ensuring her new smile would feel like hers from day one.

Surgical Experience

Patricia underwent sedation dentistry for a comfortable, pain-free experience. Both procedures were performed with minimally invasive techniques, allowing her to wake up with fixed temporaries that looked and felt like natural teeth. This approach gave her the ability to smile, speak, and eat confidently from day one — even before her final bridge was delivered.

Outcome

Patricia now has a full, permanent smile that not only looks natural but also restores the function and confidence she feared losing. Her new smile reflects the strength and patience of her journey — from holding on to the last possible moment, to finally embracing a change that has improved her life dramatically.

Key Takeaways

  • You’re not alone in wanting to hold on to your natural teeth. But when periodontal disease progresses too far, All-on-4 can offer a healthy, lasting solution.
  • Staging treatment can ease the transition — especially when one arch is more urgent than the other.
  • Immediate function and aesthetics mean you never have to go without a confident smile, even during the healing phase.
Patricia’s advanced periodontal disease with loose front tooth
Patricia’s smile fully restored after upper and lower All-on-4

Schedule a consultation

At All-On-Four Dental Implants, we provide the highest quality dental care for our patients in the Tri-State area. With over 30 years of experience, our team is led by surgeons and doctors at the top of their field, so you know you are receiving the best care possible. Our office is a welcoming environment and we treat our staff and patients like family. We hope to see you soon for a free consultation.

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