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All too often, Dr. Thomas T. Teel and Dr. Mulokozi Lugakingira see patients who have reached the end of their rope. Maybe they’ve suffered facial trauma, or maybe their teeth are deteriorating. Maybe they’ve had so many dental issues they just want it to stop. Regardless of why, they reach the point where they find themselves willing to replace their teeth once and for all.
Fortunately, Dr. Teel, a restorative dentist at Family Dentistry & Aesthetics, can offer a state-of-the-art solution – a procedure that does not involve dentures and which takes place in a single day. Family Dentistry & Aesthetics works collaboratively with Dr. Mulokozi Lugakingira (Dr. Luga) of Fort Wayne Maxillofacial Surgery & Implant Center to place fixed dental implants on the same day as extraction. What differentiates this procedure from other implant surgeries is its use of advanced technology to precisely design, guide, and place the implants. In addition, the surgeon and the restorative dentist work closely throughout the procedure to ensure the best functional and aesthetic outcome.
As a specialist, Dr. Luga works collaboratively with more than 160 area dentists and physicians. When a situation calls for extraction and implants, he and Dr. Teel collaborate from start to finish.
“When we do these big cases where we’re removing people’s teeth, placing dental implants and same-day teeth” says Dr. Teel, “we do this as a team, together.”
Such cases require a tremendous amount of preparation, and planning begins about a month in advance of the actual procedure. During that time, they discuss the case, take 3-D scans of the patient’s dentition, and create digital models from which the premade prosthetic teeth are produced. By the time the day of surgery arrives, the entire process has been precisely mapped. Along the way, they spend as much time as necessary to make sure the patient is comfortable.
“What sets us apart is that we take the time,” says Dr. Luga. “I’m going to sit with my patients until all their questions are answered.”
On the day of surgery, Dr. Luga removes the existing teeth and uses a 3-D CT-scan fabricated template for guidance to place the implants. After that Dr. Teel affixes the new teeth, making sure the bite is correct and they look natural. Often, the doctors have to make slight adjustments to accommodate unforeseen conditions. Their close collaboration at those times helps ensure not only a functional but also an aesthetically appropriate outcome for the patient. This is also crucial in managing complications if and when they arise.
“With the technology we use, there is no guesswork as to where the implants should go,” says Dr. Luga. “We first determine where the teeth need to be, and then we work back and figure out where there is room in the bone to accommodate the implants. Sometimes we have to make judgment calls during surgery if, for example, the bone isn’t dense enough.”
After the procedure, the patient leaves the office with fixed teeth, as opposed to removable dentures, that remain in place while the gums heal Dr. Luga and Dr. Teel digitally plan a case prior to surgery. 48 Business People April 2020 and the implants integrate. Recovery from the surgery typically takes about seven days, but soft tissue and bone changes continue for up to six months. At the end of this time, the provisional teeth are replaced with a permanent version. Unlike removable dentures, the teeth affixed to the implants – both the provisional and the permanent – are fixed in place, do not cover any part of the palate, and cannot be removed by the wearer.
Doctors Teel and Luga grow very close to their patients as they spend time with them and learn their stories. The procedure is a big deal, they say, and patients often become emotional when they see the results.
“When the patient can bite an apple, eat corn on the cob, or smile without worry,” says Dr. Teel, “you’re giving them back their life.”
While variations of this procedure have been evolving for 20 years, the procedure Dr. Teel and Dr. Luga employ maximize the use of technology to accomplish extreme precision. They’ve both attended many hours of additional training in order to master the technology. Over time, they have accumulated a deep well of experience, allowing them to effectively address some of the area’s most complex cases.
“I find that the patients that we see are often the ones who have been told it can’t be done,” says Dr. Luga.
Nothing gives them more pleasure than seeing patients smile at them with renewed confidence.
“We want to give the patient the best treatment, period,” emphasizes Dr. Teel. “This is life-changing.”
