20-Implant, Full Mouth Reconstruction: a Once-in-a-Career Opportunity

By Kelly Fessel Carr

Posted Sep 14, 2012 in Labs & Profiles


When Aaron Hoffman, Troy Gooden and Eric Gooden, Co-Owners of Sunflower Dental Studio in Topeka, KS, first saw the impressions for a 20-implant reconstruction, they thought it looked like something from a sci-fi movie. It was the largest case Hoffman had ever had the opportunity to work on during his 19-year career as a ceramist, and he couldn't wait to get started.



1 } The Restorative Challenge


The 80-year-old patient had tremendous decay and bruxing problems and the prognosis of his natural dentition was "hopeless," says his dentist, Dr. Guy Gross, New Horizons Dental Care, Salina, KS. Dr. Gross removed all of the patient's teeth and restored him with a complete set of dentures. However, the patient had a severe gag reflex, couldn't tolerate the dentures and after a few months said, "If you can rebuild my mouth with restorations that function like real teeth and no removable prosthesis, that's what I want."


Dr. Gross explained...

Please Log In or Sign Up (it's free) to read the rest of this article
About The Author

  • Kelly Fessel Carr

    Associate Publisher / Editor at LMT Communications, Inc. · Newtown, CT

    At the helm of the magazine for over 35 years, Kelly is the heart and soul of the editorial department, guiding and shaping our coverage - both in print and online - to bring dental laboratory decision-makers the news and...

Please Log In or Sign Up to post to this article
  • Rob Teachout Image
    Rob Teachout · Ceo · Prescott, MI

    "Galvanic reactions and non-precious alloys
    Whenever two dissimilar metals are in contact with each other an electrical current is
    generated. The consequence of the current is dependent upon the materials and
    environment. Multiple studiesii,iii,iv have been conducted on the effects of alloys in contact
    with...[More]

Show More