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Cutting Edge Technology restores smiles
Charlotte Tanner, originally of Atlanta, was diagnosed with stage III of a rare form of throat cancer in February 2014. Doctors warned she might not make it, but she's been cancer-free now for 18 months. Still, she came away not completely unscathed.
"My teeth turned yellow," Tanner said. "My bottom jaw was totally disintegrated."
The life-saving radiation and chemotherapy Tanner endured had so severely damaged her teeth and jaw bone that eating had become difficult and smiling embarrassing. Dentures weren't even an option, so much had the jaw been deteriorated. That's where Dr. Vladimir Khantsis at Greencastle Family and Implant Dentistry came in.
"There was a special in the Banner Graphic about a free cleaning and examination, and I took advantage of that," Tanner said. "The reason I chose (Dr. Khantsis) was that I was very impressed that there was such a dentist in Greencastle. I had had dentists tell me there was nothing they could do."
Dr. Khantsis puts the smiles back on his patients using state-of-the-art technology. Using the growth factors, a kind of hormone, in a patient's blood, he can encourage the body to regrow its own bone. Once the factors are mixed with bone graft material and inserted into the tooth extraction sites, the body begins the healing process on its own.
"We not only prevent bone loss," Dr. Khantsis said, "we eliminate a lot of the existing bone loss. The healing process is much faster and more potent."
After the bone has grown back, Dr. Khantsis can install natural-looking tooth implants that are far more permanent and durable than dentures. But before he does anything, Dr. Khantsis uses 3-D scans to simulate the surgical procedure so that "there's no guesswork. I know exactly where I have to start to get the final product."
And the final product is impressive.
"I can eat anything," Tanner said. "I'm getting so many compliments. I couldn't be happier."
Dr. Khantsis speaks at seminars around the world to teaching this procedure to other dentists, and Tanner goes with him to relate her experience. She is also featured in the business's advertisements and on the Facebook page.
"My bottom line is how great it is that we have a surgeon and dentist here in Greencastle who does such a fantastic job," Tanner said. "It's a blessing to have him here."
Greencastle Family and Implant Dentistry, which opened in January 2015, is located on East Franklin Street. Patients can receive an implant consultation, X-ray and exam for free, and can even choose the color, size and shape of the implants. You can find out more about Greencastle Family and Implant Dentistry by calling 301-9000 or by visiting its website at www.greencastledentistry.com.