Non-Verbal Autistic Patient
Special Care for a Special Patient
The patient, a 20-year-old non-verbal woman with autism, was referred to the Blende Dental Group (BDG) by the University of New Mexico School of Dental Medicine. Her severe dental damage was caused by regurgitation and bruxism, resulting in loss of front teeth, extreme erosion, and decrease in vertical dimension. She needed sedation for all dental procedures. Due to the cadence of care needed, the University of New Mexico referred the case to BDG. Our teams specialize in treating patients with unique conditions with care that is patient, comfortable, and ensures predictable outcomes.
In a teleconsult with the family and dental providers in Albuquerque, our team was able to assess the situation and determine an effective treatment plan. The patient’s mother said that she loves to smile and wanted her to have her front teeth again as soon as possible. And our mission was to give her daughter the smile she deserved.
The patient and her mother traveled to Blende Dental Group’s San Francisco office. Under general anesthesia with a medical anesthesiologist, our dentists prepared and temporized a long span anterior bridge and the posteriors to open her bite. The crowns were cemented at a second sedation visit just weeks later. The anterior teeth were restored esthetically with inconspicuous metal incusals and the posteriors with white gold for strength and longevity.
Pediatric Patient
Giving a Young Patient a Bright Smile and Brighter Future
A 13-year-old patient from Nevada came to Blende Dental Group by way of a series of referrals. It began with a pediatric dentist who referred her to Western Dental because she had all permanent teeth. Unable to handle the case, they referred the young patient to another local private dentist. He felt the patient was outside the scope of his practice as a pediatric dentist. The patient was then sent to the General Practice Residency at University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she was subsequently referred to UC San Francisco. Doctors there, familiar with the expertise of BDG, directed the patient to us.
The teen suffered from anxiety, MTHFR gene mutation, autoimmune disorder, and lupus. She was wearing an Invisalign tray constantly, claiming that her teeth were breaking down without it. Advanced decay had set in across most of her teeth.
The team at BDG decided the best way to remove the decay and restore her mouth was to treat the patient under general anesthesia at our local hospital, where our dentists have privileges. Our goal was to eliminate the patient’s consistent pain, allow her to eat without challenges, return her youthful smile, and maintain healthy bone levels for potential future implants.
Under the care and supervision of MD anesthesiologists, the Blende Dental team removed all of the decay and placed glass ionomer restorations to repair functional surfaces. We removed teeth with abscesses or extensive decay. Bridges were prepared for the front teeth using acrylic temporary material and cementing those permanently with resin modified glass ionomer permanent cement.
At her 3 month post-op hygiene visit, her local dentist reported that “home care seems to have significantly improved,” along with oral hygiene habits and overall dental health.
