As a teenager, Jon MacDonald was missing a part of
himself.
Quite literally.
“It was a top tooth, a gap right next to my two front
teeth,” Jon says. “It was rather noticeable.”
The young man is one of many Americans with a congenital
malformation, lacking a lateral incisor, one of the most commonly affected
teeth.
Jon’s dental history includes years of wearing braces, and
extensive work with two orthodontic specialists, but he was not a satisfied
customer.
“After having previous dentistry, my teeth shifted,”
recalls Jon. “What the dentists did, well, it didn’t work. Since I have a large
gap, the retainer I was given had a huge fake tooth on it. It looked weird.
They also told me I had to have surgery for that.”
Both Jon and his mother were frustrated with the ordeal
because the expensive procedures seemed unsuccessful.
“Why couldn’t we at least achieve what we’re trying to if
we’re paying all that money?”
While in downtown DeLand one day, he noticed the building
where Deland Implant Dentistry was located. Jon did not hesitate to call the
office and set up an appointment with Rajiv Patel, BDS, MDS, a board-certified
general dentist specializing in implant dentistry and conscious sedation.
“Dr. Patel gave us a reasonably priced estimate with the
most optimistic treatment plan,” reports Jon.
When Dr. Patel saw Jon’s mouth, he says he was taken
aback.
“Where the missing tooth would have been, there was a
retainer with a false tooth on it that did not at all match the rest of Jon’s
teeth,” recounts Dr. Patel.
Personalized plan
The first step for Dr. Patel when it comes to new patients
like Jon is to learn about their dental history, listen to concerns, and
provide a thorough oral examination.
“Our philosophy is to look at the patient’s issue
comprehensively, rather than focusing only on a specific problem,” the dentist
emphasizes. “I value my success as not just my technique, but also how patients
benefit from their treatments.”
Taking Jon’s young age into account, Dr. Patel concluded
that placing a dental implant in the void of his upper mouth would be a good
option. Using a transparent Essix retainer, several of Jon’s teeth were moved
over the course of four months.
“I needed to create enough room to place an implant of
appropriate size and align the other teeth in preparation for veneers,”
explains Dr. Patel. “After the dental implant was integrated, I added Lumineers
(thin veneers affixed to teeth) and they looked very nice on Jon.”
For Jon, his new smile made the whole process worthwhile.
“No one wants to be the one person who keeps their mouth
closed in the row of teeth for photographs,” says Jon.
Throughout Jon’s treatment, he says he truly felt at home
in the DeLand Implant Dentistry office.
“Dr. Patel is extremely pleasant,” observes Jon. “He’s
very friendly and thoughtful. Most of all, he’s considerate to patients. Plus,
Dr. Patel definitely knows what he’s doing.”
Considering Jon’s treatment plan successful, Dr. Patel
says that’s what he strives to accomplish.
“We are a practice that provides a wide range of dental
services in one location,” he shares. “Because our office is small, we are able
to take a one-on-one approach with our patients, and see them in a very timely
manner. We also control our costs in efficient ways to keep our prices fair.”
With problem teeth behind him, the 20-year-old can focus on
his next goal: going to college to become a nurse.
“I just wanted teeth that looked good,” says Jon.
FHCN – Jennifer L. Moore