Modern full mouth dental reconstruction, though a very quick procedure, consists of several steps. Full mouth dental implants procedure steps refer to distinct phases in the treatment, each of which progressively brings you closer to your desired smile.
Understanding these steps is crucial for every patient opting for full mouth dental implants, as it’d mentally prepare the patient regarding what to expect in their dental restorative journey. It’d also help patients gain a deeper insight into the treatment as a whole.
In this blog, we’ll briefly go over the full-mouth dental implant procedure steps, so you may have a good idea of what the treatment entails.
What Are Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Let’s first build our basic understanding of full mouth dental implants before diving into its placement procedure.
Full-mouth dental implants are a dental restorative treatment aimed at treating complete edentulism (complete loss of natural teeth, affecting the whole mouth) with the use of dental implants and attached prosthetic teeth. The treatment is also commonly referred to as full arch dental implants or full mouth dental reconstruction.
In this treatment, a few dental implants (ranging from as few as 4 implants to a maximum of 8 implants, depending on the patient’s jawbone health) are inserted into the edentulous jawbone at specific positions, followed by the attachment of a denture. This entire process is completed within a single dental visit.
The implants act as a substitute for natural tooth roots, stimulating the jawbone and serving as strong and stable attachment sites for the denture, which, in turn, restore the visible part of missing teeth.
In this way, the implants and the denture work together to provide a permanent and comprehensive replacement for missing teeth, restoring the dental functionality and aesthetics of the edentulous patient to perfection.
Traditional Vs. Modern Full Mouth Dental Implants
What we’ve just described is the modern approach to full-mouth dental implants (the one that’s widely used today), and it’s significantly different from its traditional counterpart (the approach that used to be employed in the past).
A traditional full-mouth dental implant treatment is an elaborate procedure in which each missing tooth requires a separate dental implant. For instance, if one dental arch (i.e., 16 teeth) needs replacement, then in a traditional procedure, several implants would be placed in the arch. Not only this, but each implant in the arch would require a separate dental visit to be placed, and each would have to undergo a healing period before they could all collectively support a denture.
Modern full-mouth dental implant procedures have supercharged the entire process-all the implants (typically only 4-6 implants per arch) are placed in a single dental visit-and all of them are immediately loaded with the denture without having to undergo a healing period first.
The modern approach has revolutionized the dynamics of full-mouth dental implants, making them time and cost-efficient.
Full Mouth Dental Implants Procedure Steps
Now that we’ve covered the basics of modern full-mouth dental implants, it’s time to dive into the procedure itself. The procedure consists of the following 3 major steps/phases:
Step#1: Consultation
The consultation is the first step of your treatment, which involves a detailed discussion between you and your dental surgeon regarding your treatment goals. This discussion is preceded by a comprehensive examination of your oral health, where the surgeon confirms your eligibility for the procedure by analyzing your jawbone health, overall health, and other important prerequisites.
Once eligibility is confirmed and treatment goals are discussed, the surgeon plans your implant surgery in advance, deciding on the specific implant technique (all on 4 implants or all on 6 implants, etc.), the sites of implant placement, implant angulation, and other crucial aspects of surgery.
Step#2: Implant Surgery
The implant surgery is performed in the very next dental visit. It’s a minimally invasive surgery performed under general anesthesia. Small incisions are made into the gums, which are just deep enough to access the underlying jawbone for implant placement.
The jawbone is then carefully drilled at the predecided positions for the insertion of implants as per the predecided technique (whether it’s all on 4 implants or all on 6 implants). The implants are then placed in the drilled spaces, and the gum incisions are stitched back.
The specific technique employed in the surgery would dictate the duration of the implant surgery. It would also impact the cost of full-mouth dental implant procedures (besides other factors such as the material and quality of implants used, etc.). Higher-quality materials, such as titanium or Zirconia, tend to cost more compared to others. Additionally, preparatory procedures like bone grafts and sinus lifts will add to the costs.
Step#3: Denture Placement
As soon as the implant surgery concludes and the gums are stitched back, a temporary denture is attached to the implants via the implant abutments (implant connector pieces sticking out of the gums). In this way, an immediate replacement for missing teeth is achieved, allowing the patient to resume eating, chewing, drinking, and speaking normally.
Such an instant restoration of a patient’s smile is the hallmark of modern full-mouth dental implant treatment-in which the patient enters the dental clinic with a toothless jaw-and leaves it with a fully functional, aesthetic, and stable set of teeth.
The patient is advised to use the temporary denture for only a few weeks following its placement. During this time, the freshly placed implants heal and make a strong fusion with the surrounding jawbone (via a process called osseointegration). Once full implant healing is achieved and the implants fully stabilize, the temporary denture is removed and replaced with a permanent denture, which the patient will use for years to come.
Conclusion
Modern full-mouth dental implants are an ideal dental restorative treatment for patients suffering from complete edentulism and seeking a long-term solution. The full mouth dental implants procedure steps consist of a straightforward 3-step process, providing patients with an instant restoration of their smile.
For more details about full-mouth dental implants, schedule a FREE consultation with Redwood City Implant Clincic, a premium dental practice located in Redwood City, California. Meet our expert implant surgeons and pave your way to a healthy and beautiful smile transformation!
