If you’re self-conscious because you have missing teeth and dentures give you a big “ick,” full arch dental implants could be just the solution you’re looking for, especially if you have lost most or all of your teeth on either the upper or lower jaw.
Dental implants are an increasingly popular treatment at the cutting edge of dentistry — in fact, they are one of the most advanced solutions to restoring your smile in the past 40 years of dentistry, with a success rate of up to 97 percent.
It’s time to talk to the Lubbock-based team at Hancock and Johnston Dentistry to see if dental implants are an option for you.
What Are Full Arch Dental Implants?
Your real tooth consists of roots and a crown. The crown is the surface of the tooth. The roots anchor the tooth through the gum tissue to the jawbone. Losing a tooth is a loss of both the crown and the root. In order to replace a tooth, dentists have to create a new root via a dental implant made of titanium, which is anchored into the jawbone.
Full arch dental implants involve placing a set of dental implants that support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. Because these implants are fixed into the jawbone, this procedure is more permanent than dentures and therefore sturdier. With a full arch of new teeth, not only will you have a more beautiful smile — you’ll also be able to eat and speak with confidence.
When to Consider Full Arch Dental Implants
Extensive Tooth Loss
If you have lost many teeth in your upper or lower jaw due to decay, trauma, or periodontal disease, full arch dental implants are a viable option. Missing teeth can affect your “bite” and your ability to speak, eat and chew.
Dissatisfaction with Dentures
If you use dentures but find them uncomfortable or inconvenient, full arch dental implants can be life changing. Unlike dentures, implants do not slip out of place or click. They may be more expensive in the short term, but in the long term you’ll find that the durability of implants will be the more cost-effective choice.
How Full Arch Dental Implants Work
There are three steps to full arch dental implants:
- First, the dentist surgically places the implants into the jawbone by drilling holes. The implants are shaped like screws or cylinders and inserted into the holes. Your dentist may recommend a diet of soft foods, cold foods and warm soup during the healing process. This step is done at the oral surgeon; we work with them on appointments between the offices
- Next, the bone around the implant heals via osseointegration, meaning the bone actually grows around the implants to hold them in place. Titanium implants are biocompatible and promote bone growth. Done with the oral surgeon
- Last, it’s time for the placement of the artificial teeth. A custom-made arch will be made to fit your mouth and your implants. This is done by the dental office (us)
Benefits of Full Arch Dental Implants
Full arch dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options like dentures:
A Beautiful Smile
The most noticeable benefit of full arch dental implants is their ability to restore a natural-looking smile, which is no small feat! The prosthetic teeth are custom-made to match the shape and color of your natural teeth so you can speak and laugh effortlessly again without fear of being judged by any denture mishaps (or lack of teeth).
Comfort and Convenience
Dentures are time-consuming to maintain. You have to remove and clean after eating and soak overnight. Instead, full mouth dental implants need only be brushed and flossed like natural teeth. Dentures taken out at night and brushed and implants and gums brushed. You can not floss your teeth. We teach you how to floss the implants if it is screw retained. If not you care for the implants as your teeth and brush the dentures
Some dentures are made screw retained (all on 4) only the Dr can remove them. Patients with any type of implant dentures need to maintain dental cleanings of the implants to prevent changes in the bone which can cause loss of bone and loss of implants
Preservation of Jawbone
Full arch implants help maintain the natural contours of your face through osseointegration (the strengthening of the jawbone by binding with the titanium implants). This can prevent the sunken-face appearance that often accompanies tooth and bone loss.
Long-Term Durability
With proper care, full arch dental implants can last a lifetime. They are made from durable materials designed to withstand the daily pressures of chewing and talking.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Full arch dental implants are a routine surgery performed at Hancock and Johnston Dentistry. Meet with us so we can go over your options. We will evaluate you to determine whether your overall health makes you a good candidate for this solution and whether you have enough jawbone density to support the implants.
Patients that undergo this procedure are given a local anesthetic that fully numbs the mouth before any drilling begins. Most patients are fully awake during the 2- to 3-hour surgery.
For patients with dental anxiety, we can provide an oral sedative to allow you to sleep from beginning to end. You may experience some discomfort after the procedure that can be handled by an over-the-counter painkiller. For reference, most patients say tooth extraction is more painful than implant surgery.
Remember, a healthy, confident smile doesn’t have to be out of reach! Full arch dental implants could be the key to achieving it. Hancock and Johnston Dentistry has been southwest Lubbock’s leader in modern dentistry since 1975. Our practice has long provided dental implant surgery to patients of all ages, restoring smiles, confidence and oral health every step o the way.
