Before And After Dental Implants: Meet Ray

The owner of a successful auto shop here in Vista, CA, Ray lives an active life full of motorcycle riding, spending time with his grandkids, and being the face of his small business.

The only problem? Not too long ago, his teeth and his health were suffering. Medications for diabetes, blood pressure, and more were piling on, and he worried about interacting with customers with a haggard smile. Something needed to change….fast!

Let’s break his problem down:

Who: Ray

Problem: Problems in his mouth were negatively affecting his health and ability to run his business

Solution: Teeth in a Day from North County Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in Vista, CA

Did it work? You bet it did! Not only can Ray smile confidently and lead his business, his health has also recovered. He is now off of all of his medications, and can enjoy his best life.

Here’s Dr. Henninger talking about how NCCID helped Ray:

“Ray was referred to our office by one of our team members, and I’m glad that he chose to come in. As the face of his business of more than 55 years, it was vital for him to be able to interact with customers and feel confident that he was making a good impression.

"We took a look at Ray’s situation and it was clear that what was going on in his mouth was affecting more than his outward appearance. Oral health is directly related to overall health. Ray’s missing teeth and affected gums gave dangerous bacteria a free ride straight into his bloodstream, where they could aggravate his diabetes and cardiovascular disease."

He’s right! Gum disease and diabetes are closely linked. Inflammation and bacteria from the mouth can lead to higher blood sugar, increasing the risk for diabetes. In turn, the higher blood sugar can cause higher levels of sugar in saliva, which worsens gum disease. It’s a vicious cycle that is unfortunately very common. In fact, the National Institute of Health found that more than 86% of people with diabetes also have gum disease!

The same goes for cardiovascular health. Harvard Health recently reported that "People with gum disease have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event." Why? Because oral bacteria can potentially trigger inflammation throughout the body, narrowing arteries. Additionally, certain oral bacteria have been traced directly to the heart and can even contribute to stroke.

Needless to say, without action, Ray’s health was at serious risk. Here’s some more from Dr. Heninger:

"Talking through the different implant options with Ray, it was clear that he wanted to get results fast. That’s why we agreed on fixed upper and lower implant supported bridges. It was the perfect solution for him. He would get beautiful, permanent results in a single day. And that’s exactly what happened. After just one visit he was able to get right back to his rides in the desert, playing with the grandkids, and working with customers.

Even better, in just a few short months, his health dramatically improved. He’s now healthier and has been taken off all of his diabetes and blood pressure medicine. That’s what really inspires me and gives me purpose in this work. His implants have made his entire life better."