Rare treatment gives 'bite n smile' to toothless youth

Phagwara, Sep 23 (UNI) A complex ultra modern dental procedure has helped a 24-year-old youth, living a toothless existence so far, to not only flash a toothy smile but also bite into an apple.

Manish, a 24-year-old local youth, who did not develop permanant teeth which is a rare case, occuring one in a million times used to shy away from speaking, smiling and eating in public.

However, today he is a confident man, happily biting apples and flashing ready smiles after renowned Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Sameer Kaura and Ludhiana-based Dental Surgeon Dr Vivek Saggar rebuilt his jawbone and tooth implants in a rare and intricate surgical procedure.

Manish had been without teeth since he was 15 though there was no medical or family history associated with the abnormality.

Dr Saggar and Dr Kaura told media persons that the jawbone had been reconstructed with the help of a cortico-cancellous bone graft taken from Manish's hip by Dr Sameer Kaura, a Consultant cum Reader in BJS Dental College Ludhiana.

Dr Saggar, Vice-Principal of the same college, who along with Dr Kaura and Dr Shaveta Sahnan implanted the teeth in a new jaw bone, said that the patient's alveolar ridges were knife-edged. ''A radio-graphic examination revealed that maxillary sinuses lay very low and in the anterior region, vertical height was minimal,'' he added.

The team of doctors, in a computer-aided surgery, implanted 28 teeth.

Manish told media persons with a smile, that after existing on liquid and semi-solid food or milk for so long, he was thrilled to be able to eat normal food and was looking forward to live a better life.

UNI