This YouTube video (uploaded Dec 15, 2017) documents Beverly Hills periodontist Dr. Sanda Moldovan treating 74-year-old actress Valerie Perrine, who has severe Parkinson's disease and medication-related tooth brittleness leading to tooth loss and malnutrition. The video shows the full upper-arch rehabilitation: removal of remaining upper teeth, harvesting bone graft from the mouth, placement of four implants and a fixed prosthesis (full-row replacement), a six-hour surgical procedure, and a successful one-week follow-up where Valerie is pleased with her new smile.
Questions this video answers
74 years old.
Four implants.
Six hours.
December 15, 2017.
Chapters
Valerie Perrin is best remembered as Lex Luthor's girlfriend in the original Superman movie.
Park Avenue address 200ft below.
The bombshell was one of the hottest sex symbols of the 70s. Her beauty and exquisite face made her a sought after Hollywood sensation. But today, Valerie's life has taken a dramatic turn. She is 74 years old and suffers from a severe case of Parkinson's disease. Brain surgery to stop the shaking was unsuccessful. Now medication she takes to manage her Parkinson's is making her teeth so brittle, they're falling out. Unable to eat solid food, she's also malnourished. Today we're with Valerie as she attempts to restore her once perfect smile.
So great to see you. Thank you. Are you excited? I'm petrified.
Beverly Hills periodontist Sanda Moldovan will use implants to permanently replace Valerie's upper teeth.
You're gonna smile, it's gonna be stable. You're not going to have to remove it in and out. And you'll be able to eat and enjoy everything. Thank goodness.
Using a model, the doctor explains how it's done.
That really is replacing a full row of teeth with four implants and a fixed prosthesis. Okay, so let's do it. Let's get on with it.
Valerie is sedated. The doctor starts by removing all of Valerie' remaining upper teeth. She uses a special tool to loosen them.
It allows me to remove the teeth in a more gentler way.
Next, it's time to strengthen Valerie's jaw. The doctor actually harvests some unneeded bone from Valerie's mouth.
We're going to use the bone that we harvested from other areas, and we're going to plug it up in the holes where the teeth used to be. And that will help maintain the shape of the jaw.
Then screws are attached directly to her jawbone. After some adjustments, a complete set of upper teeth is read to be permanently attached. The process takes six hours.
Her procedure went great. I really had a hard time with her bone. It was very soft. The teeth were breaking down. But she was sleeping so beautifully and peacefully, and I was able to do my best work.
One week later, we check back with Valerie.
What do you think? It's perfect. I'm so glad you think so. I love it. For you.
The American beauty who once graced the silver screen and is now able to smile again.
