Full Mouth Dental Implants Procedure

An implant-supported full denture can be a great replacement option for you if you are missing all of your natural teeth. Dental implants replace the roots of the natural teeth, providing many advantages over other replacement options. Full mouth dental implants are resilient, durable replacement teeth that function and look like natural, healthy teeth. Full mouth dental implants are also more stable and comfortable than traditional dentures, which allows you to use your mouth and teeth naturally and maintains a natural, comfortable bite. As an added benefit, dental implants support the surrounding jawbone, eventually integrating with the bone itself and thereby strengthening the bone. In cases where natural teeth are removed and not replaced with implants, the jaw itself begins to degrade, which causes the sunken look you may have seen in people who have lost all their natural teeth. Implants prevent this sinking of the jaw, help the jaw generate healthy bone, and help preserve the existing jaw bone. While they may be more expensive, in the long term, full mouth dental implants are more attractive, easier to maintain, and more comfortable, and they contribute to the overall health of the jaw bone and of the mouth. For these reasons, many people find full mouth dental implant treatment to be a great option for them to create their new smile.

The treatment process begins with a consultation, in which you discuss the treatment with your dental health practitioners and learn about your options. This consultation will include either an x-ray or a CT scan, which will help the surgeon determine the most secure placement location for your implant. You may also consult with a cosmetic dentist, who will be designing the crown part of your new denture, to review digital imaging that allows you to see your new smile before it’s made. If tooth extractions will be needed, these will likely require a second visit, and some healing time will be needed following this extraction and before the placement of your implants. You will be given a temporary teeth replacement option during this healing time, and at other points in the treatment before the final, permanent crowns are placed. Once the mouth is properly prepared, the implants, which are small metal cylinders, will be placed into your jaw bone. The implants are then given time to heal and to fuse to the bone, over the next three to five months, creating firm supports for your new teeth. Again, you will have temporary replacement teeth during this healing time.

Once the implants have sufficiently integrated with the surrounding bone, in the second step of the medical process, your dental health provider will uncover the implants and attach extensions to the tops of the implants. These extensions include the abutments that the replacement teeth, or crowns, will latch into, holding them securely in place. Your gums will be given time to heal after this procedure, during which time you will again use your temporary replacement teeth. Some implants don’t require the extensions, or abutments, to place the dental bridges, which eliminates this second step. These are called “one-stage implant systems,” and they use implants that have the extension pieces directly attached to them. Your dental health provider will talk to you about which system will work best for you. The connecting device that holds your teeth in place will either be tightened to the implant, or clipped to an anchor that holds your denture. These devices vary depending on the number of implants each person has placed. After all bone and gum tissue is healed, your dentures, which have been custom created for you out of porcelain that looks and feels like natural, healthy teeth, will be attached to the appropriate connecting device. After a very brief adjustment period, you will resume a natural ability to chew and to speak, and you will find yourself with renewed confidence in your smile and appearance. In some cases, certain steps in the treatment procedure can be combined, so be sure to talk to your dental professional about what treatment plan will work best for you.

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