“The first solid food I was able to eat was an apple. It was very emotional, both me and my wife were crying” – it might be normal for so many people, but for one man, it marked an important moment to return to happy himself.
Barry, a mental health nurse’s aide, undertook a harrowing 10-year journey to regain his smile. The 59-year-old never had any dental problems, but when he reached his forties, he had a tooth extracted with devastating side effects.
After having his wisdom teeth removed, Barry began experiencing severe side effects. This led to him having six teeth removed – and being left with two teeth in his bottom row.
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“Until my late forties I never had any health problems related to my teeth. I went to the dentist regularly and they never offered me a scale and polish as part of the service, so I guess I didn’t have to,” said Barry. Failsworthhe explained.
In 2014, Barry had his wisdom teeth removed, which quickly became a nightmare. He said: “I’ve never understood the point of wisdom teeth but I think sometimes they keep them all in line and so my others were starting to spread.
“As this was happening, I was getting debris into the tooth socket which caused inflammation and infection causing my gums to recede. I eventually had six teeth removed and was left with two teeth on the bottom row. I looked like something out of Lord of the Rings.”
To make matters worse, the dentists determined that the dentures were not suitable for him and as a result, Barry was on a diet of soft foods and liquids for almost 10 years. He said: “The dentures fitted correctly but the bond would soften if it got too hot.
“If I tried to bite anything, the wooden clip from the back would click. Normally, when people have teeth removed, their gums naturally harden and they can at least chew.
“Mine didn’t, so it left me severely anemic and I had absolutely no energy.”
Barry’s life changed when he was finally referred to the hospital, to a team dedicated to the creative work of making prosthetics that replicate a patient’s features as closely as possible to real life. Barry was referred to North Manchester General Hospital where the maxillofacial department began the process of fitting his new teeth.
The main operation consisted of drilling into Barry’s skull and lower jaw to secure the implants and wait for osseointegration – the direct connection between living bone and the surface of an artificial implant. Once the implants are stable, they are exposed and a rod is attached to the implants.
The teeth clip onto the bar held by the implants, meaning the dentures are firmly in place and can be easily removed.
Due to his poor health, the hospital staff were concerned about whether their plan would ultimately succeed. Miraculously, his body healed within a few months and Barry was able to begin his recovery. He said: “The first solid food I was able to eat was an apple. It was very emotional, both me and my wife were crying.
“Food is so important and the whole ordeal has affected my social life. I missed everything from birthdays, Halloween parties and Christmas. I even left a long beard and mustache so you can’t see my mouth.
“Now I’m back to eat and I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in years. I even shaved off my facial hair and got my smile back!”
Hany Nasry is the clinical director of the oral and maxillofacial department based at North Manchester General Hospital. Typically, a visiting patient and their highly skilled team will design their prosthesis, then undergo surgery according to the 3D design so that the prosthesis can finally be more securely attached.
Hany said: “Our team treats a very wide range of patients from those with benign dental problems requiring restoration, to those who have suffered traumatic injuries. We also work closely with head and neck oncology, as tumors and radiation therapy can cause blindness and nerve paralysis.
“Taking into account all the individual circumstances of patients, we need to look at the different ways we can make prostheses to give them a better quality of life.”
