Full Arch Implant Reconstruction
Full-arch dental implants use titanium posts to support an overdenture in order to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. Approximately six implants are placed in the jaw and attached to a metal support bar. This support bar contains connections so that the overdenture can snap into place and be retained by the implants. Since the denture is bar-retained, it can also be removed for cleaning.
Did You Know?
Full-arch dental implants have many benefits such as: allowing you to eat harder foods, restoring the appearance of your smile, preventing bone loss, and improving your ability to speak.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for full-arch dental implants?
You may be a candidate for full-arch dental implants if you have multiple damaged, decayed, or missing teeth within the same arch. However, to have dental implants placed, you must have enough bone mass in your jaw to support the implants. Therefore, Dr. Mehdi Matin will need to perform dental x-rays and an oral exam to make sure that you are an ideal candidate. Schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Mehdi Matin of West Coast Oral Surgery today!
What can I expect when having full-arch dental implants placed at West Coast Oral Surgery?
Full-arch dental implants are placed over the course of multiple appointments at West Coast Oral Surgery. First, you will undergo a minor oral surgery to have your implants placed. You will be anesthetized and sedated so that you do not feel any discomfort or anxiety during the procedure. Dr. Mehdi Matin will begin by making a small incision in the gums to reach the jawbone. The implant will then be screwed into the empty tooth socket. A healing cap will then be placed over the implant and your gums will be sutured to allow the implant to heal. This process is repeated for each implant being placed.
After they have been placed, the implants will need to heal by fusing with the surrounding bone. This is known as osseointegration and it generally takes between 3-6 months. Dental implants are only considered to be successful if they osseointegrate, so this is an important and necessary step in the process. Only after the implant has osseointegrated, can Dr. Mehdi Matin begin the process of placing the overdenture.
To place the overdenture, the healing cap is removed and replaced with a small metal connector called an abutment. The abutment will be screwed into the implant so that it sticks out from the gums and attached to an implant support bar that sits on top of the gums. A dental impression will then be taken and sent to a dental laboratory to start the fabrication of your custom overdenture.
The dental lab will fabricate something known as a record base, which will be fitted in your mouth over the implant support bar. Once the fit has been confirmed, then teeth will be added to the base and any adjustments will be made so that it fits perfectly. Your final denture will snap into place and be supported by the implant support bar.
What can I expect after having full-arch dental implants placed?
After having full-arch dental implants placed, you can expect some minor soreness, bruising, and swelling. Dr. Mehdi Matin will provide you with information on pain management, and may also prescribe pain medication and antibiotics. In most cases, any discomfort will fade within the first week or two following surgery. However, you will need to stay on a temporary soft foods diet until your implant fuses with the surrounding bone. It is important to adhere to a soft foods diet so that you do not cause the implant to shift while it is healing. Dr. Mehdi Matin will provide you with guidelines on what to eat and what to avoid.
All-on-X Implants
All-on-X dental implants can use 4, 6, or 8 implants to place an implant supported denture for a full mouth restoration. Unlike full-arch dental implants, all-on-x dental implants are used to fix the denture into the mouth so that it is not removable. This means that you will only need to care for your denture like you would your natural teeth. Additionally, the all-on-x approach can minimize the need for bone grafting, which will shorten the length of your treatment.
Did You Know?
When having all-on-x implants placed, you can expect to leave your oral surgeon’s office with teeth the same day. However, you will still need to allow your implants to heal before testing the full function of your new teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for all-on-x dental implants?
You may be a candidate for all-on-x dental implants if you have an entire mouthful of severely damaged, decayed, or missing teeth. To determine if you are an ideal candidate for all-on-x implants and how many implants are needed, your oral surgeon will need to perform dental x-rays and an oral exam. Schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Mehdi Matin of West Coast Oral Surgery today!
What can I expect when having all-on-x dental implants placed at West Coast Oral Surgery?
All-on-x dental implants are placed in two stages at West Coast Oral Surgery. During the first procedure, you will undergo a minor oral surgery to have your implants placed. You will be anesthetized and sedated so that you do not feel any discomfort or anxiety during the procedure. Dr. Mehdi Matin will begin by making a small incision in the gums to reach the jawbone. The implant will then be screwed into the empty tooth socket. A small metal connector called an abutment will be screwed into the implant so that it sticks out from the gums. This process will be repeated until the designated amount of implants have been placed. Then, the temporary dentures will be screwed into the abutments, securing them in place.
Between the first and second stages, the implants will need to heal by fusing with the surrounding bone. This is known as osseointegration and it generally takes between 3-6 months. Dental implants are only considered to be successful if they osseointegrate, so this is an important and necessary step in the process. Only after the implant has osseointegrated, can Dr. Mehdi Matin replace your temporary denture with your permanent denture.
What can I expect after having all-on- x dental implants placed?
After having all-on-x dental implants placed, you can expect some minor soreness, bruising, and swelling. Dr. Mehdi Matin will provide you with information on pain management, and may also prescribe pain medication and antibiotics. In most cases, any discomfort will fade within the first week or two following surgery. However, you will need to stay on a temporary soft foods diet until your implant fuses with the surrounding bone. It is important to adhere to a soft foods diet so that you do not cause the implant to shift while it is healing. Dr. Mehdi Matin will provide you with guidelines on what to eat and what to avoid.
