What is a full arch dental implant?
A full arch dental implant is a prosthesis that is supported by dental implants. Some patients, unfortunately, are going to lose all their teeth, or they have already lost all their teeth. By checking a three-dimensional radiograph, we can pinpoint the areas where we can place implants for support. We can then use those implants to hold a prosthesis, which can either be removable or fixed to the implants.
Who is a good candidate for full arch dental implants?
Technically, many patients can be good candidates for full arch dental implants as long as we have enough bone. If we don't have enough bone, there are usually procedures that we can do to regenerate and rebuild the bone.
There are also certain health and lifestyle factors that we need to consider. For example, smoking and uncontrolled diabetes can interfere with healing and may affect whether someone is a good candidate for dental implants. That's why evaluating your overall health is an important part of the process.
How do dental implants and dentures work together?
Dental implants and dentures can work together. If you are a denture wearer, the support system for that denture is just the tissue, or the gums. Therefore, the denture might move or shift, you might get food trapped underneath it, and you can have other problems like that.
When you add implants and have them underneath a denture, whether the prosthesis is fixed or removable, the difference can be significant. That denture is going to be much more stable, you're less likely to get as much food trapped underneath it, and it's going to feel more solid. You are going to be able to eat more comfortably and feel more confident about everyday activities.
What is the first step in getting full mouth dental implants?
The first step in getting full mouth dental implants, or really any dental implants, is evaluating the patient with a three-dimensional radiograph called a CT scan or cone beam CT. This radiograph gives us information about the volume and amount of bone, as well as the areas where we may be able to place implants. Therefore, we can plan that surgery down to the millimeter.
After doing that, we're going to plan everything on the computer, rendering it just like you would render a house as an architect. We're going to render how your teeth are going to look, and we're going to be able to see how your smile could look. This allows us to plan toward the end result before the actual implant surgery takes place.
The first steps would be taking that three-dimensional radiograph and then taking a three-dimensional image or intraoral scan of your mouth.
How long does the full mouth dental implant process take?
The whole full mouth dental implant process, if we talk about it from beginning to end, could take nine months, or it could take a year. In some very specific cases, we can do what we call "teeth in a day." In those cases, we can extract the teeth, place the implants in very strategic positions, and then, at that same appointment, install a temporary prosthesis.
After that, we're going to have a period of healing of about six months before we start to fabricate the final restoration. Those final restorations can be made from different materials, including acrylic or ceramic, depending on the treatment plan.
Is the dental implant procedure painful?
Like any surgery, a dental implant procedure can be uncomfortable at some point. There is not supposed to be pain during the procedure because we take steps to keep you comfortable. Of course, there's going to be a recovery period, and we always tell patients that they can expect some recovery discomfort afterward.
We provide our patients with appropriate medications to help control discomfort after the procedure. Usually, for bigger procedures, we tend to use sedation with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and an anesthesiologist so we can have you in the most comfortable situation possible.
How long do full arch implants last?
How long full arch dental implants last depends on how you take care of your implants and how regular you are with your dental visits. That's where everything starts. With proper care and maintenance, a denture or prosthesis held by implants can last a long, long time. We are talking about approximately 20 to 25 years of use in some cases, although longevity can vary from patient to patient.
How do you take care of full arch implants?
You would take care of your full arch implants much like you would take care of your own teeth. The important thing is maintaining excellent oral hygiene and coming to see us regularly. We may recommend seeing you about every four months for maintenance.
Depending on the type of prosthesis you have, approximately every year we may remove the prosthesis so we can thoroughly clean everything, inspect the components, perform any necessary maintenance, and then put it back in place.
Can you change the color or shape of the teeth during reconstruction?
Basically, we are reconstructing everything, right? Technically, we can change a lot, and that's the beauty of it. We don't necessarily need to stick to your old tooth color or shape. We can make major changes if that's what we're looking for, or we could keep a similar color and appearance to what you had before.
We can somewhat copy what you had when you were younger and try to use that now that we are reconstructing everything. We have a clean slate, basically, and we can design the smile around what we're trying to achieve.
How much do full arch dental implants cost?
Depending on how many implants we're placing, the type of prosthesis we're using, and the materials we're using, the cost of full arch dental implants is going to vary a lot. You can go from around $25,000 per arch into the higher $40,000s per arch, and sometimes a little bit more than that.
Again, there is a big range in pricing because it depends a lot on how many implants are needed and what the situation is for your particular case.
What financing options are available for full arch dental implants?
At HQ Dontics, we provide several financing options that may help make full arch dental implants more manageable. We have in-house financing, CareCredit, Sunbit, and other financing companies such as Cherry. Available terms and interest rates will depend on the financing provider and your individual approval, so we'll help you explore the options that may be available to you.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (229) 508-0551 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!