Corina Cashion’s beautiful new smile, installed by Health Science Center periodontal and prosthodontal resident Dr. Paul Chang, is the first time a one-piece, all-ceramic prosthesis has been used to replace an entire arch of teeth.
Printer Friendly Format

A fourth-year Health Science Center dental resident recently gave Corina Cashion what she had wanted for a long time — a full set of false teeth that were almost exactly like her natural ones.

Because of her fear of dentists and needles since childhood, Cashion had been unable to get the dental care she needed. Her nutrition had suffered for years because she was losing her teeth and she could only eat soft foods, such as rice and soups. Something as simple as eating an apple was impossible for her.

The new procedure, performed at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, for the first time gave Cashion and others like her who have extreme dental problems, the opportunity to eat normally again and to improve their appearance.

“Biting forces in someone with healthy natural teeth have enough pressure to almost crush a finger,” explained Lily T. Garcia, D.D.S., M.S., professor and chair of the Health Science Center’s department of prosthodontics. When people lose the use of their natural teeth and use dentures, they typically lose 80 to 90 percent of their biting strength. This new alternative restores biting pressure to close to what they had originally with their natural teeth,” Garcia said.

The new procedure, performed by dental resident Paul Chang, D.D.S., M.S., involves installing a full arch using a biocompatible ceramic material that is supported by four to six titanium post implants. While dental implants and implant-supported prosthesis (artificial teeth) have been used in the past to replace single or groups of teeth, this is the first time a one-piece, all-ceramic prosthesis has been used to replace an entire arch.

The new procedure and materials offer many advantages, explained Garcia. “Instead of full-palate dentures that feel like they ‘float’ and cover the roof of the mouth, preventing patients from tasting food, the prosthesis is securely installed in one piece,” she explained. “This provides extra strength and endurance, and the prosthesis looks and feels more like natural teeth.”

While it might sound painful, Cashion said the most difficult thing for her during the procedure was the intravenous sedation, due to her fear of needles. “Everything Dr. Chang did in my mouth was no problem at all, even pulling the teeth. I even went back to work a day or two later with only a little swelling. He did a great job,” she explained.

Dr. Chang performed the procedure during a live broadcast for the Academy of Osseointegration Corporate Forum, held in San Antonio March 8. The demonstration provided continuing education for prosthodontists, as well as other specialists who provide dental implants. Prosthodontics is an American Dental Association-recognized specialty of dentists, who work with the most severe cases of dental restoration.

After earning his Doctor of Dental Science degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore College of Dentistry in 2003, Dr. Chang received his Master of Science degree from the Health Science Center School of Biomedical Science in 2006. He is specializing in a combined periodontics and prosthodontics program.

Two weeks after the life-changing surgery, Cashion claims her new teeth are better than her originals. She is using them to enjoy foods she has avoided for years. One of them is apples. “Eating an apple is something people take for granted,” she said. “It was wonderful — and tasted very good!”