A Tale of Resilience: Restoring a Smile Against All Odds

It was a typical Saturday afternoon when my cell phone rang, disrupting the calmness of the weekend. Little did we know that this case would lead us on a journey filled with emotions, challenges, and ultimately, the promise of restoring a bright smile.

The urgency in the voice on the other end of the line hinted at a dental emergency – a situation that demanded immediate attention. A concerned mother explained that her teenager had been involved in a sporting accident, resulting in a significant impact to the front two teeth. Since bleeding was noted after the accident, the feelings of panic and concern were heightened.

Upon their arrival at our clinic, the initial assessment painted a grim picture. The front two teeth were not in their rightful places. At first glance, our hope was that the teeth were avulsed, a situation where immediate intervention could restore the teeth to their original state. If treated within the critical window of time, an avulsed tooth could be reinserted and stabilized.

However, as we took X-rays to evaluate the extent of the damage, the picture turned grim once more. The images revealed horizontal cracks, rendering the two teeth unrestorable – this was no avulsion. The news brought tears, both for mother and son as it felt that his beautiful, youthful smile would never be the same.

However, upon further inspection, not all hope was lost. We could still restore that beautiful smile.

In the same visit we were able to proceed with the extraction of the broken teeth. Bone grafts were performed to preserve the bone for future dental implants, laying the foundation for the journey toward a renewed smile.

The magic began when we scanned the broken teeth. Armed with advanced computer technology, we could now meticulously plan the restoration process. We could take the first step of many, today and now. Using a virtual “cut-n-paste” approach, we would mill two crowns that perfectly matched the patient’s existing teeth, ensuring a seamless and natural-looking smile.

While we knew that what initially felt impossible was now on the horizon, we were not without our challenges. Healing the extraction site and allowing the bone grafts to adhere would take approximately three months. Another four months were projected for the implants to integrate with the bone. Approximately eight months from now, the promise of a restored smile would materialize.

As we embark on this journey of resilience and restoration, we invite you to stay tuned to our blog. Witness the transformation unfold, and join us in celebrating the triumph of technology, skill, and determination as we work towards giving back the gift of a radiant smile to this courageous individual.