Difficulty chewing and biting properly, which can lead to limited food choices and potential malnutrition. Speech difficulties, such as lisping or slurring words, may also be present due to the absence of teeth that help articulate sounds. Individuals may experience self-consciousness and lowered self-esteem as the aesthetic impact of missing upper teeth affects their smile appearance. Changes in facial appearance, including a collapsed or sunken upper face, may occur due to bone loss. Additionally, there is an increased risk of oral health problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay, in the remaining teeth. Functional limitations may arise, affecting the ability to support facial muscles and maintain proper lip and cheek support.
Her surgery was complicated due to a motor vehicle accident she had over 20 years ago, which resulted in multiple surgeries on both of her jaw joints, including a left total joint replacement (TJR). She was missing all of the teeth in her upper jaw which caused problems eating, speaking, and feeling confident in her smile. She had a severely atrophic maxilla, – her upper jawbone had undergone significant resorption and loss of bone volume. Prior to her surgery with Dr. Movahed, her maximal incisal opening (MIO) was only approximately 10 mm. These factors posed challenges and considerations for her procedure with Dr. Movahed.