Teeth in an Hour

Teeth in an Hour
May 31, 2005
Millie Martinez
KOLD News 13
New teeth in an hour. It just sounds too good to be true, b ut, a new procedure for those who wear dentures is changing lives here in Tucson.
76 year-old Lois Runyon wears dentures. Sometimes her gums get so sore, its even difficult to eat. Lois say, "I can't put up the flopping teeth anymore."
To fix the problem, Lois' dentist suggested implant supported dentures. They're non-removable, supported bridges for patients wearing upper and lower dentures. Through computer technology a dental implant is fabricated to fit Louis' mouth.
"This will assure us that the implants in an accurate," says Dr Bill Becker. Dr. Bill Becker is the only periodontist in Tucson who can perform this type of implant surgery. Becker says the benefits of denture implants create a better jaw for patients. Becker said, "Less of an opening, less bleeding, less swelling, less discomfort and more rapid healing."
The procedure takes less than an hour to perform. Under local anesthesia, the implants are placed into the jaw bone and anchor pins stabalize the implant.
"That's the 13mm implant and that's what will support the bridge, were gonna have four of them," says Becker.
After placing all four pins in the implant, Lois' new teeth go in. She no longer has to endure weeks of visits and uncomfortable dentures. For now, she's amazed to have teeth once again.
For the first few weeks after treatment patienrs are advised to eat soft food. The average cost for implant supported dentures is between eighteen and twenty thousand dollars depending on the patient.