Full Mouth Dental Implants Ponte Vedra Beach

Who is a Candidate for Implant Dentistry?

Full-mouth dental implants are considered the next best thing to natural teeth. However, they won’t be the right option for everyone. The best thing to do is schedule a consultation. Dr. Perry in Ponte Vedra will perform a visual examination of your gums and jaw. He will also take CT scans to assess your overall oral health further.

In general, you will be a good candidate if you:

• Are in good overall health
• Have a jaw bone that is strong enough to support implants
• Have tried traditional dentures without the success you hoped for
• Are willing to commit to proper dental oral hygiene to prevent gum disease

NOTE: If you have remaining natural teeth that are healthy, full mouth rehabilitation may not be right for you. Dr. Perry or Dr. De Bonis can use technology like a fixed bridge to use your own natural teeth. They can support single-tooth prosthetic replacements for your missing teeth.

Types of Implants

Do you believe a full arch of implants is the answer for replacing teeth in your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both? If so, you have two options:

Implant Dentures

The process for these will take place in stages. This allows for healing time for your jaw and gums before you’re fitted with your new prosthetic teeth. Each patient’s case will be unique, but Dr. Perry may need to prepare your mouth to take implants through additional procedures before the implant process can begin. For example, since missing teeth can often lead to jaw bone deterioration, it may be necessary to bolster its strength through a bone grafting procedure. This ensures your jaw will be strong enough to support the implants properly.

Two Dental Implants

In a bone graft for an implant procedure, a state-of-the-art bone grafting material is placed on the vulnerable portion of your jaw. This encourages new natural bone growth that will be strong enough to support an implant. It may take several months for a patient to have enough new bone to grow. The timeline will vary depending on your unique needs. It is important to wait until your jaw is strong enough for a dental implant procedure. This ensures the treatment will be successful and your dentures will last.

Multiple Dental Implants

Once your jaw bone is ready for implants, Dr. Perry will use 6-8 implants to anchor your full mouth dentures to your jaw securely. Since implants are known to stimulate bone growth, over time, the implants become fused with your bone. They will truly become part of your jaw through a process called osseointegration. Once this happens, your implants will be strong enough for permanent dentures to be affixed.

All-on-Four Dental Implants

All-on-Four implants offer a method that is much faster for patients than traditional dental implants! In an All-on-Four procedure, Dr. Perry uses a smaller number of implants – just four. He prepares your mouth for permanent, implant-supported upper and lower dentures. He will strategically place these prosthetic tooth roots into very strong areas of your jaw. This ensures the dentures will stay secure.

One of the benefits of All-on-Four is that you don’t need to have 6-8 sections of the jaw bone that are strong enough for tooth implants right away. If you have four appropriately strong sections of the jaw, Dr. Perry can place your implants and dentures without a lengthy bone grafting process beforehand.

Another benefit of All-on-Four is that you can be fitted for “immediate implants” that allow you to go home with a set of temporary teeth. This can happen on the same day as your implant procedure. In the so-called teeth-in-a-day/All-on-Four procedure, temporary dentures will be placeholders while the natural swelling in your mouth subsides. This allows you to have the appearance of a full set of teeth while you wait for your permanent, better-fitted implant dentures. They will be placed when your mouth has fully healed.

What to Expect with Full Mouth Dental Implants

There is no replacement for a full set of natural teeth. Technology provides the next best thing for a patient. With proper care, your implant-supported dentures can last for decades. Most patients regain nearly all of the function they had with natural teeth. This includes approximately 70 percent of their bite force. You’ll be able to enjoy foods again that were not possible with a missing tooth or traditional dentures. Many patients find their speech improves as well.

Don’t Wait Any Longer to Restore the Smile You’ve Been Missing

Is living with missing teeth or uncomfortable dentures keeping you from living the life you want? Learn about the alternative services that will serve you long-term. Dr. Perry and his staff are dedicated to providing expert, compassionate care with complete dentistry. Their goal is to treat every patient like a family member.

Do you have questions about dental implant cost, the implant process, or treatment options? Do you wonder whether you’re a candidate for full-mouth dental work? If so, contact us today to schedule a consultation.