Bone Structure, Teeth and Facial Cosmesis Abnormalities of facial growth are common and affect facial bone structure and dental cosmesis. This in turn always has a profound effect on facial cosmesis, affecting the skull, eyes, nose, upper and lower jaw, chin and lips. In the process of normal ageing the following occurs: Bone loss around the teeth - affects the mouth - affects the lips Secondary effect - reduced muscle tone - dynamic wrinkles (smiling/frowning) - soft tissues drop - static skin wrinkles (@ rest / loss of collagen) Ageing should be a dignified process and as such requires to be managed. The (especially) premature loss of teeth disrupts the normal ageing process and produces surprising effects involving not just the mouth and lips but the whole midface area from the cheeks and nose to the chin. Premature Ageing Increased dropping of Soft tissues Marked furrows and wrinkles Reduction of vertical height of face Reduced visibility of front teeth Nasal tip droop (ptosis) Chin ptosis (Witches chin) Surgical Treatment …..of this group of problems includes: • Cosmetic / reconstructive dentistry • Dental implants / Single tooth replacement • Mini-Implant retained Dentures (Overdentures) • Orthodontics (tooth straightening) • Jaw and Nose surgery • Correction of soft tissue position Dental Implants and Cosmetic Facial Surgery Overdentures An overdenture is a removable denture secured to the jaw by titanium dental implants, which fuse to the jaw bone over a 4-6 month healing phase in a process termed “osseointegration”. Dental implants are successful in 80-95% of cases, and have revolutionised dentistry. Overdentures are a less expensive option than single tooth dental implants where multiple teeth are absent. Denture Conversion Existing dentures may be immediately converted into an overdenture at the chair side following simple implant placement under local anaesthetic. The palate may be removed from the upper denture without affecting retention. Mini-Dentures™ Mini-Dentures™ have been developed by the NCAFOS to overcome the problems of the partial denture. The denture is retained by mini-implants placed directly through the gum. Adaptation and use of your existing denture is often possible. • Excellent retention • No metal clasps • Excellent Cosmesis • No Palate • Low Cost Full Overdentures The technique may also be used for the stabilisation of full dentures, with a transformation of the quality of life for patients. Most denture problems are eliminated with this simple technique. In the upper jaw a palateless denture is an option, retained by 6 mini implants. Single Tooth Replacement – Bicon Dental Implant System implant replacement for the roots of teeth single or multiple teeth titanium implants fuse (osseointegrate) with bone 4-6 month healing phase Osseointegration - success rate 85-95% Immediate tooth replacement possible Excellent aesthetics Computer planning / custom drill jigs the gold standard of reconstruction Single Tooth Replacement – Mini-Dental Implants Mini-Dentures™ Many patients with several missing teeth have no alternative but to wear partial dentures, as conventional crown and bridge work may be difficult and the cost of multiple dental implants is prohibitive. A solution to this problem is now possible with cost effective MDI Sendax mini-implant system (http://www.imtec.com). Mini-implants are placed directly through the gum, in a minor procedure under local anaesthetic and are cemented to dental crowns joined to form a bridge. This distributes the mechanical forces of biting in such a way that overloading of an individual mini-implant is less likely. Permanent crowns may be often be fitted 2 weeks following implant placement. Whereas the cost of a traditional dental implant to replace a single tooth in the UK varies from £1800-£2500, a mini-implant option costs around £900 / tooth unit. Full Overdentures The technique may also be used for the stabilisation of full dentures, with a transformation of the quality of life for patients. Most denture problems are eliminated with this simple technique. In the upper jaw a palateless denture is an option, retained by 6 mini implants.