Full Mouth Dental Implants All Teeth

For many people who are missing most or all of their natural teeth, full mouth dental implants are an ideal way to restore the function and appearance of their strong, healthy smile. Dental implants are tiny posts, made of biocompatible material, that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Once these posts heal, they are used as supports for a variety of different kinds of dental prosthetics, including:

  1. Implant-supported dental crowns
  2. Implant-supported dentures
  3. Fixed bridges
  4. All-on-4 or All-on-6 dentures

These different kinds of implant-retained and implant-supported dental restorations can be used for full mouth dental reconstruction, effectively replacing all the teeth with natural-looking, comfortable, functional, and durable dental prosthetics.

How Do Full Mouth Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are uniquely comfortable and long-lasting thanks to a biological process called osseointegration. Osseointegration occurs as the jawbone heals around a dental implant post, fusing with the implant and creating a permanent bond. It’s imperative that dental implants heal sufficiently before dental prosthetics are affixed, as failed osseointegration will mean failed dental implants. It’s also important that the patient has a sufficient quantity of healthy bone to accommodate and support dental implants, which may mean that bone grafts are necessary before full mouth dental implants can be placed. Thanks to advances in design and technology, however, cosmetic dentists can take full advantage of available healthy bone with strategically designed implants that can support multiple teeth in a row with as few as one or two implant posts. Implants are placed into the jaw in a surgical procedure; once the bone has healed around the implant post, the dentist will attach the dental prosthetic. This could be a removable denture that snaps on and off the implants, a permanent denture that can only be removed by a dentist, individual dental crowns placed on individual dental implants, or a comprehensive restoration that incorporates one or more of these types of prosthetics with other restorative or stabilizing methods.

What Steps Are Involved with Full Mouth Dental Implant Placement?

The dental implant procedure involves several steps that occur over time. These steps, and this time frame, vary depending on the type of implant being placed and the overall health of the jawbone. Generally, however, steps include:

  1. Initial exam
  2. Treatment planning
  3. Preparatory procedures
  4. Implant surgery
  5. Healing/osseointegration
  6. Restoration fitting and placement

Any dental implant placement begins with a comprehensive evaluation, including oral x-rays and 3D models of the teeth and dentition. This helps the dentist ensure that the implants visually match the natural teeth, and it allows the dentist to assess the density and integrity of the jawbone. They will use this assessment to determine the type and number of dental implants needed, and to discern whether bone grafts are required to supplement the jawbone. They will also review your complete medical history, noting all medications and medical procedures and adjusting plans accordingly.

As you plan your treatment, your dentist will review your anesthesia options with you and explain how you can best prepare for surgery. If preparatory procedures like bone grafts are needed, these are placed and allowed to heal before implants are inserted. Likewise, if damaged teeth need to be extracted, this procedure is completed in preparation. On the day of surgery, the dentist makes an incision in the gums and inserts the implant post, usually made of titanium, into the jawbone before suturing the gums back together and giving everything time to heal.

After the jaw has completely fused to the implant post, the gums are opened once again, and an abutment is affixed to the exposed tip of the implant. Then, the gums are sutured in place around this abutment, and the artificial tooth or denture is attached to the abutment and adjusted to fit perfectly. Your dentist will make sure you know how to care for your full mouth dental implants, and, with the support of regular dental visits, your confident, comfortable smile can continue for a lifetime.

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