Complete tooth loss (edentulism) is a serious oral health condition that can dramatically diminish your quality of life, from limiting the range of foods you can eat to preventing you from enjoying social interactions. A long-term survey by the National Center for Health Statistics suggests that around 12.9% of American adults over 65 are edentulous, while 19.6% of people over 75 have complete tooth loss.
While dentures provide a solution to missing teeth, they also have several drawbacks. Wearing dentures can lead to bone resorption and changes to your facial structure, which can cause the dentures to slip and impact your eating and speaking ability.
Full mouth dental implants, also called full-arch implants, offer a permanent alternative to dentures to treat complete tooth loss. Dental implants are metallic posts that provide a strong base for removable or fixed replacement teeth. They are made of biocompatible materials, typically titanium, which fuses with the jawbone over time to form a strong and stable foundation.
Benefits of Full Mouth Dental Implants
Full mouth dental implants offer several benefits that can improve your quality of life, including:
- Improved appearance: Dental implants look and function like your natural teeth, so you’ll smile confidently.
- Improved function: With full-mouth dental implants, you’ll be able to chew and speak without difficulty.
- Improved oral health: Dental implants protect your jawbone from deterioration, reducing the risk of further tooth loss.
Who is a Good Candidate for Full Mouth Dental Implants?
A suitable candidate for full-mouth dental implants should have healthy gums and enough jawbone structure to support the implants is a non-smoker, and is in overall good physical health.
Full-arch implants are often a good choice for patients with mild bone resorption. The angled placement means you may not need a bone graft to restore your jawbone density.
Factors that may disqualify you from full-mouth dental implants include active gum disease, poor oral hygiene, or any conditions that might prevent healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes or an autoimmune disorder.
The Full Mouth Dental Implant Procedure
Full-mouth dental implants use four or more implants to support an artificial denture plate. The dental implant procedure is typically performed over several visits and includes the following steps:
- During the first visit, your dentist evaluates your medical history, performs digital scans and X-rays to determine the density and thickness of your jawbone, and assesses your gum tissue for disease and the condition of your remaining teeth to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Your dentist needs to extract the remaining teeth in your jaw to make room for the implants and denture plate.
- During implant placement, your dentist makes an incision in the gum tissue above the location of each implant and drills small pilot holes in the jaw. The anterior implants are inserted straight down, while the posterior implants are placed at a 45° angle.
- A healing cap is placed over each of the implants, and the gums are sutured closed. As you recover over the next several weeks, your jawbone fuses with the implants.
- On your next visit, your dentist re-opens the surgical sites to expose the tops of the implants. They place small connectors (abutments) on top that serve as the attachment point between the implants and the restoration. During this appointment, your dentist will also take digital impressions of your mouth to send to an off-site lab where your denture plate will be fabricated.
- The final stage of treatment involves placing the denture plate on top of the implants.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
While full-mouth dental implants have a higher initial cost than other tooth replacement options, they are a more cost-effective investment in your oral health long-term. Because the implant permanently fuses with your jawbone, you do not need to have your implants replaced. Only your restoration needs replacing every 15 to 20 years.
At Blue Island Smiles, we accept most PPO insurance plans and offer an in-house program with low monthly payments, no up-front costs, or pre-payment penalties through our partner CareCredit.
Visit Blue Island Smiles to Restore Your Oral Health
Restore your smile with full-mouth dental implants at Blue Island Smiles. Our experienced team of professionals uses innovative technology and the latest safety protocols to give you a successful outcome. To schedule your dental implant consultation, contact us at (708) 371-3844.