Replaced bridge with implants after an accident damaged her teeth and jaw

Category: Twenty-something year old woman with a genetic susceptibility to bone loss 

Anna von Urbans is one of the most distinguished pianists of her generation, having won several prestigious piano competitions, including a Gold at the Maurice Ravel International Piano Competition. She lives a very public life, which means her appearance matters a great deal.

As with many people, Anna is genetically predisposed to bone loss, and in the early 2000s, after experiencing deterioration in some of her teeth, she had them replaced with a bridge. The bridge was neither comfortable nor especially natural looking.

In 2010 she broke the bridge in a fall that injured her mouth. She had two options: redo the bridge or have dental implants. Her dentist recommended implants and referred her to specialists.

After doing some initial research, Anna decided that she wanted to pursue implants because she thought they’d be would be more permanent and aesthetically pleasing than a bridge. Since she always researches any topic she’s interested in thoroughly, she culled all available information on the procedures and specialists recommended to her. When she felt she understood the world of implants well enough, she interviewed two specialists whom she’d learned were the top implant dentists in California.

“I believe everyone should approach implants with as much information as they can get, so they can spend their time with the specialist talking specifically about what they need. After speaking with Dr. Bahat there was no question who I would choose. He is a great communicator. He never underestimated my intelligence and always explained even the most arcane aspect of the procedures with detail and precision,” says Anna.

Dr. Bahat adds that, “Anna’s case was highly complex. With the bridge there was some jawbone deterioration, and we needed to build up the bone structure so the five implants would fuse well to create a permanent solution that was also aesthetically beautiful.”

Working with a renowned prosthodontist, Dr. Bahat guided Anna through two surgeries while closely monitoring her progress and overall health.

“For a person undergoing treatment like this, it’s important to remember how much your oral health affects your body and your general health—it all works together. Dr. Bahat also realizes that the procedure is just one aspect of the entire process, so his attention to my health did not end with the surgery. He monitored my progress every three months gave me lots of information about general wellness. He still sees me every six months,” Anna says.

“Although it may have seemed like a long series of procedures, I had almost no pain, healed quickly and felt fantastic. I would not have changed one thing. I am no longer self-conscious about my teeth and have a brand new mouth. Dr. Bahat’s fantastic—I would do it all again.”