Full Arch Prosthesis

Full-arch implants use a sequence of 4-6 dental implants to replace a full arch of lost teeth. After the implants have healed, your dentist will create a set of permanent or removable implant-supported dentures that clip onto the implants. 

Unlike ordinary dentures, these dentures will never shift or move, and they look and feel natural. Full-arch implants also help to strengthen and maintain your jaw bone, preventing bone resorption after tooth removal.

There are numerous advantages to replacing a whole arch of teeth with dental implants, the most obvious of which is a more attractive smile. That being said, full arch implants can restore your smile, and they look and function just like natural teeth. If you’ve been considering a new smile and currently wear dentures, you may consider dental implants.

The full-arch implant procedure:

The method is quite similar to that of a single-tooth implant, however, before you can obtain full-arch implants, you must have all of your natural teeth pulled. Your mouth will be cleaned and numbed before a series of 4-6 implants are inserted in each arch.

Your dentist will then install temporary dentures on your implants. To avoid harming your implants, you must take specific precautions when chewing with these teeth. It will take a few weeks for your implants to heal, but it will take 3-6 months for them to fully attach to your jaw bone.

When your mouth has healed, you will return to our office for your last appointment, at which point your permanent dentures will be fitted to your implants, completing the process.

Fixed prosthodontics:

Fixed prosthodontics is the practice of repairing teeth with restorations that are cemented into the patient’s mouth. They are usually created in a laboratory after impressions, or molds, are taken for the technician to work with. They are also referred to as ‘indirect restorations.’

Indirect restorations can be used to restore and repair individual or many teeth, as well as to fill relatively tiny gaps between teeth. In comparison to traditional fillings, indirect restorations are more durable. In many cases, indirect restorations can be improved, also called superior aesthetics. It’s difficult to predict how long fixed restorations will last. If properly planned, executed, and maintained, they might survive up to 10-12 years, and possibly longer. The primary types of indirect restoration are shown below:

Crown:

The word ‘cap’ is frequently used to describe crowns. They cover the parts of the original tooth that are still present after a large quantity of structure has been removed, offering full coverage and protection of the tooth. From an all-metal gold crown to a highly durable ceramic crown, there are many different materials that can be used to create crowns. The degree of dental decay, the type of tooth, and the patient’s preferences all influence the kind of crown that is selected.

Bridge:

Bridges are designed to close spaces left by missing natural teeth. They can be secured to the neighboring tooth with a dental adhesive or by a metal wing attached to an adjacent tooth that has a crown. Depending on the extent of the gap and how the teeth work, bridges may be supported on either side of the gap (conventional) or only one side (cantilever). Bridges can be aesthetically pleasing and functional, but occasionally those that are attached with a metal wing darken the surrounding teeth slightly. However, they preserve significantly more of the natural tooth structure than if the tooth next to them were to be covered in a crown to support the bridge.

Inlay:

The inlay is a more traditional alternative to a crown. If a relatively modest quantity of tooth tissue is lacking inside the boundaries of the tooth cusps, an inlay may be provided. Ceramics, resins, or metals may be used to create the inlay.

Onlay:

Similar to an inlay, an onlay frequently covers a tooth’s cusps. They are especially helpful when the tooth has to be repaired or strengthened. They can also be utilized to lengthen or raise the tooth, which is helpful if a worn-out dentition is being rebuilt.

Veneer:

A veneer is a thin piece of ceramic or resin that is attached to a tooth’s surface. They can be used to fix cracked teeth, rotated teeth, and aesthetically unappealing teeth. Thanks to advancements in dental technology, it is now possible to create veneers that adhere directly to the tooth surface.

Full-arch implant benefits:

If implants are a possibility, here are the advantages of receiving a whole arch of implants at once

1. Economical savings

In addition to saving money overall, getting a whole arch of dental implants is much more cost-effective than getting one or two at a time.

2. Resilient

Most full arch dental implants last between five and fifteen years, although others might last much longer, therefore, it is less probable that you will need to go back and fix each tooth individually when everything is finished all at once.

3. Shorter healing time

By receiving a whole arch of implants at once as opposed to enduring individual implant procedures, your healing time will be shorter.

4. Comfortability

When compared to conventional dentures, full arch implants excel at stability and comfort. Biting and chewing will become natural functions once again. 

 5. Improve jawbone health

Your jaw’s health will improve if you have a full arch of dental implants. The implanted teeth attach to your upper and lower jawbones in the same way as your natural teeth did once your entire arch of implants is in place. 

Complete arch cost:

Because there are many variables that affect the final cost, patients are recommended to reach out to their dental insurance company, which might pay for some of the dental implant operation regardless of cost. Visit the Wilmot  family dentists to find out if you qualify for dental implants and what your individual and affordable payment plan can look like.

If you’d like more information, please arrange a virtual consultation. Or, you may use our online form to request an appointment if you’re ready to take the next step and want to know if you qualify for dental implants. We are eager to get to know you and discuss the many advantages of getting a full arch of teeth via dental implants.

For more details about dental implants in Tucson, Arizona, get in touch with Wilmot Family Dentistry, Tucson. Even after reading about getting an arch of teeth at once, you may still have questions about dental implants and we are here to answer them.