When you have extensive tooth loss, daily activities like eating or speaking become more challenging. Teeth play a crucial role in your body, and a single missing tooth can completely disrupt your oral health, negatively impacting your quality of life. To restore your smile, you may consider searching for “full arch dental implants near me.”
Unlike other restorative options, like dentures, full arch implants are attached to strategically placed dental implants. This helps promote good jawbone health while ensuring unparalleled stability and durability for your new smile. If you’re interested in this treatment, here’s what you need to know.
Understanding Full Arch Dental Implants
Simply put, full arch dental implants are dental restorations made to replace a whole arch of lost teeth. Because they are anchored directly into the jawbone rather than relying on nearby teeth for support, they offer stability, functionality, and aesthetics comparable to those of natural teeth.
To understand how full arch implants work, it’s necessary to first break down the structure of a dental implant:
- A metal titanium screw that’s inserted into the jawbone. Titanium is a biocompatible material, meaning it can integrate with the bone, offering stability comparable to a natural tooth.
- An abutment that connects the titanium post with the prosthetic tooth.
- A customized dental crown, designed to match your smile in color, shape, and appearance.
By inserting a titanium post into the jawbone, full arch dental implants offer constant stimulation to your bone, fostering growth and reducing bone resorption. On the other hand, the procedure strategically locates these to reduce the overall number of implants you need, making it an available option for patients who lack bone density and reducing overall treatment costs.
Other benefits of this treatment include:
Natural-Looking Teeth:
Full arch dental implants use custom-designed prosthetic teeth to look and function like natural teeth. Our dental technicians will consider your facial features to ensure your new smile complements your characteristics and any remaining natural teeth. This results in a natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing smile.
Improved Chewing and Speech:
Compared to traditional dentures, full arch dental implants improve chewing efficiency and speech clarity. Dental implants provide a stable and secure foundation for better bite force distribution, allowing patients to eat a wider range of foods and speak confidently and clearly.
Enhanced Oral Health:
Full arch dental implants promote bone growth and density, preserving jawbone health and preventing further bone loss. Unlike traditional dentures, which can cause bone resorption over time, dental implants function similarly to natural tooth roots, preserving facial structure and integrity.
Furthermore, dental implants eliminate the need for removable prosthetics, which lowers the risk of oral health problems like gum irritation and inflammation.
How’s the Process for Getting Full Arch Dental Implants?
The procedure for getting full arch implants begins with a consultation to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for this type of implant. We will conduct a comprehensive exam to assess bone density, gum, and oral health. This involves X-rays and 3D imaging to ensure accurate placement.
Before the implant procedure can start, any teeth still present must be extracted. The procedure entails inserting four or more titanium posts into the jawbone, where they will integrate over months.
Once adequate healing time has elapsed, custom-made replacement teeth are affixed to these implanted posts using abutments. With appropriate care and maintenance, full arch dental implants can endure for many years without requiring repair or replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Full Arch Dental Implants
Full arch dental implants offer patients with extensive tooth loss an effective treatment option that provides stability while restoring both function and aesthetics in their smile. However, getting this treatment can be intricate, so it makes sense to want to know everything you can about it beforehand.
To help you, here are some FAQs about full arch dental implants!
How Many Implants Are Placed?
The number of implants placed to support your full arch prosthetic depends on several factors, from your available jawbone density to your objectives and budget. There are three main types of full arch procedures, depending on the implant number:
- All-on-4® Dental Implants: In this cutting-edge method, four dental implants are positioned strategically within each arch to give the prosthetic teeth the most stability and support possible. All-on-4 requires little surgery and recovery time to restore both functionality and appearance.
- All-on-6® Dental Implants: All-on-6 dental implants support an entire set of prosthetic teeth using six dental implants per arch, much like the All-on-4® technique. This method provides increased durability and stability, especially for patients with a history of dental problems or reduced jawbone density.
- Fixed Full Arch Implants: To support a permanent bridge or denture, several dental implants—usually six to eight per arch—are positioned in each arch. Patients can enjoy a natural-looking smile thanks to this method's exceptional stability and functionality without the need for detachable prosthetics.
What is the Recovery Time After a Full Implant Procedure?
After a full arch implant procedure, recovery times vary based on personal factors like general health, the extent of the surgery, and compliance with post-operative care instructions.
Patients should generally anticipate a few months for the implants to fuse with the jawbone completely.
How Long Do Full Arch Implants Last?
Full arch dental implants provide a strong and long-lasting option for replacing lost teeth. With the right upkeep and care, which includes frequent dental examinations and good oral hygiene habits, full arch implants can last a lifetime.
However, the longevity of dental implants may be impacted by personal factors like lifestyle decisions, oral health practices, and underlying medical conditions. You can extend the life of your full arch dental implants by speaking with your dentist and following suggested aftercare instructions.
What Causes Extensive Tooth Loss?
In dentistry, an arch is the way the teeth in the mandibular or maxillary jaw curve. The entire set for biting and chewing comprises two dental arches. You may think that missing an entire arch of teeth is complicated, but this occurrence is more common than you think.
Missing a single tooth can foster tooth loss in the surrounding teeth because the jawbone in the area starts to recede, weakening your entire arch’s stability. Approximately 30% of the alveolar ridge is lost due to resorption in the first 3-6 months after tooth extraction.
On other occasions, bad oral hygiene habits and gum disease lead to extensive tooth loss.
Find a Reliable Provider for Full Arch Dental Implants Near Me
Dentures have been a reliable solution for restoring your smile for several years now. However, as dental technology advances, new, innovative restorations emerge that leave behind the troubles associated with common dentures.
The process for getting full arch dental implants can be long and complicated, but it can be the method to help you gain the stability and function you need to eat, speak, and smile confidently. If you want to learn more about it, contact Mirror Lake and schedule an appointment today!
