Easily the strongest and most effective method for the permanent replacement of missing teeth, dental implant options address a wide spectrum of patient needs, budgets, and preferences.
For Nelson Ryman, the decision to move forward with dental implants hinged on a couple of different issues: first, a strong desire for comfort, and second, a sincere trust in his dentist’s abilities. “I went to see Dr. DeLuca after I had been to another dentist who hadn’t done me any good and had taken a lot of my money,” Nelson recalls. “I happened to know Dr. DeLuca’s receptionist, Tawnya. She gave me some information, and I realized I was interested in implants.”
At the time of his initial visit, Nelson had six lower teeth and no upper teeth remaining. Though he did have a set of dentures, he says he had never been atisfied with them. “The dentures were never comfortable for me,” he explains. “I talked with Dr. DeLuca, she gave me a treatment program, and I decided I would go with it.”
Finding the right option
Vivian C. DeLuca, DMD, an extensively trained general dentist with advanced education in oral surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry, and conscious sedation believes in treating the whole patient. “Our motto is Healthy smiles, healthy bodies, healthy lives,” she says. “I strive to motivate my patients back to the basics of good health by eliminating infection, then building on a healthy foundation.”
Once that foundation exists, Dr. DeLuca stresses, she can then focus on finding the best treatment solutions for each individual. And when dental implants are part of the discussion, the doctor says she finds it most effective for patients to come into the office for a free consultation. “An implant consultation can answer questions and possibly be the first step on the road to permanent tooth replacement.”
During that consultation, the wide variety of implant procedures are explained, as well as additional procedures like bone grafts or tissue grafts, and the potential cost of each option. “Some cases are more complex than others,” the doctor explains. “The placement of implants is a process, and there is a price to be paid. With these free consultations, we can give patients a baseline idea of what is involved so they can decide whether or not they want to proceed further.”
As a result of Nelson’s consultation, Dr. DeLuca says she learned that he had difficulty adapting to dentures and could not get used to the feel of the appliance against histissue. For that reason, doctor and patient decided it would be best to transition to implants. “I placed two implants and a fixed bridge on either side of the lower jaw, which restored his force and control of chewing. Six implants were placed in the upper arch to support a removable denture.”
Dr. DeLuca says she made a special removable appliance for Nelson, known as an implant-supported hybrid upper denture, which has a metal rather than an acrylic base so that it is much thinner and smaller, covering less tissue surface area. The hybrid, she explains, is considered a middle-of-the-road implant option with regard to cost to replace a full arch of teeth. It was created to work with Nelson’s budget as well as his comfort level.
“Nelson does a great deal of philanthropic work in Haiti,” Dr. DeLuca informs. “Because of that work, he told me he had set aside a certain amount for himself, but that he wanted to save as much of his money as possible for the people who needed his help. This is a man who just constantly gives back, who does so much for so many.”
By working with a couple of local labs, the doctor says she was able to stay within Nelson’s budget and come up with a treatment option that suited his needs, an end result the doctor strives to achieve for every patient.
A natural result
After having completed the implant process with Dr. DeLuca, Nelson says things have gone extremely well. “I’m very, very satisfied with what she did for me. I didn’t use sedation, but she made sure that I stayed comfortable. She really was good at that.
“The implants feel as natural as if they were my own teeth, and they felt that way from the time that she put them in, so she’s done a good job.”
As pleased as he is with the dental work, Nelson notes that he is even more impressed with the doctor as a person. “I know her reputation, that she has been awfully good to a lot of people who couldn’t afford quality dental work like hers, and that she even comes sometimes at night and weekends when patients are in extreme pain. I think that says a lot about her,” he says.
In fact, he adds that he has encountered the same open, giving attitude from everyone on staff at Impeccable Smiles. “Every visit I made, everyone was very cordial and very warm, and that’s just my style of life. My family hugs everybody.”
The bottom line, according to Nelson, is all about trust. “You’ve got to trust somebody before you’re ever truly comfortable with them, in terms of their ability and their motives,” he asserts. “I could tell right away that her expertise was there. She was very gentle, she knew what she was doing, and she did a great job. Dr. DeLuca is just a real person first, and then a good dentist besides.”
FHCN – Brenda Klettke
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