Case Studies — San Luis Obispo, CA
Case studies from our practice
Every case includes the clinical reasoning, the techniques used, and the outcome — written for patients and providers considering treatment.
Case studies
Selected cases from our practice
Full-mouth reconstruction
A patient in her thirties came in with failing teeth: periodontal disease, infection around earlier implants, and decay, on top of single-tooth work that had been done piece by piece over the years. After a full evaluation, and planning alongside her prosthodontist, Dr. Janette rebuilt both arches. Four implants went into the upper jaw and four into the lower, placed with a guided surgical protocol, and digital records were taken during surgery so provisional teeth could be delivered within 24 hours. At six months the implants had integrated, her bite worked again, and the final teeth were designed and fitted.
Why it matters: single-tooth dentistry done without a wider plan can leave a mouth harder to restore than it needed to be. Even when the problem looks like one tooth, it is worth asking what the whole mouth needs.
Congenitally missing teeth
A patient in her late teens had worn resin-bonded bridges since childhood for two upper teeth she was born without. She disliked how they looked and found them hard to keep clean. After talking through the trade-offs, Dr. Janette removed both bridges and, once orthodontics had opened the spaces correctly, placed two implants with hard- and soft-tissue grafting where it was needed. The implants were scanned during surgery so provisional crowns could go in the next day. Her final crowns follow after a minimum of four months of healing.
Why it matters: teeth that never formed usually leave thin bone and thin gum tissue behind, and the roots of the neighbouring teeth often crowd the space. Both have to be planned for before an implant goes in, because a patient this age lives with the result for decades.
Wisdom teeth removal
A patient in her twenties had a low-grade ache at the back of the lower jaw on both sides. The cause was chronic inflammation around wisdom teeth that had only partly come through, a condition called pericoronitis. After going through the pros and cons of removal, all four wisdom teeth were taken out under local anesthesia. The two partly impacted lower teeth needed bone removed to reach them. She went home with instructions for eating and keeping the sites clean, plus a short course of antibiotics, and was told to expect swelling and a limited bite for a few days.
Why it matters: wisdom teeth that never hurt can still cause damage. Left in place, the inflammation around them complicates later treatment and puts the healthy molar in front at risk.
Wondering if your case is similar?
Bring your imaging and history. Dr. Janette reviews complex cases personally at consultation.