Losing all of your natural teeth in one or both jaws can be stressful and overwhelming. It can even feel isolating. You may have trouble speaking or eating, or develop anxiety about social situations. On top of this, trying traditional dentures with limited dental options or no success can make you feel hopeless.
If you’re living with complete tooth loss and struggling to find your natural smile again, we can help. There IS hope for restoring your missing teeth and your confidence.
Though you may feel alone, an estimated 35 million Americans are missing all their natural teeth. Many have tried traditional dentures, and this is a great option for many people.
Recent dental advancements in implant bridges mean that dentures are now more comfortable and natural-looking than ever before. If you’re looking for a better, more lasting solution, however, learn about a full mouth rehabilitation and it could be a life-changing option.
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 best option for everyone. Learn what you will need to determine whether dental implant surgery is right for you. 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 can use technology like a fixed bridge to use your own natural teeth. They can support single tooth prosthetic replacements for your missing teeth.
How it Works – Full Implants
Dental implants are small metal “roots” that are placed in your jaw bone where your tooth root once was, just beneath your gum line. The bone heals around this dental implant post, securing it in place. Dr. Perry can then take these implant posts to support dentures that are permanently affixed to your gums. These prosthetic teeth look and function just like natural teeth. Since they’re permanently attached, you don’t have to worry about implant-supported dentures slipping out of place or irritating your gums.
These are common problems with traditional supported dentures. You don’t have to undertake a daily removal and cleaning process either. These prosthetic teeth can be cared for in your mouth, like natural teeth. Due to their permanence, they give you a function that is closest to your natural teeth. They also offer a natural look and care plan option.
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-Retained Dentures
The process for these will take place in stages. This allows for healing time for your jaw and gums before you’ll be 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. See our before and after smile gallery.
In a bone graft for a implants 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 upon 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.
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 osteointegration. 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 a patient than the traditional implant-retained dentures treatment plan described above. 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 in place.
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 procedures, 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 supported dentures. They will be placed when your mouth has fully healed.
What to Expect For Full Mouth 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 alternatives services that will serve you long term. Dr. Perry and his staff are dedicated to providing expert, compassionate care in 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.
