Full-arch dental restoration is the best possible solution for patients with failing or missing teeth. After this dental procedure, it is imperative to maintain proper oral hygiene for the rest of your life. The risk of complications with dental implants can be reduced by maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits before, during, and after the procedure. If you follow professional recommendations from Temecula Facial Oral Surgery, your beautiful smile and long-term outcomes and satisfaction are easy to maintain.
Table of Contents
How Does a Full Arch Restoration Work?
If you have lost many teeth over the course of your life, full-arch restoration may be a good option for you. Dental implants and screw-retained prostheses make it possible to recreate a complete set of teeth.
A full arch restoration can restore aesthetics, chewing ability, and speaking proficiency in patients who have lost most or all of their teeth in one or both arches. Dental implants, prosthetic teeth, and micro screws that attach the teeth to the implants constitute a full-arch restoration. As a result, the patient will receive a complete set of stable teeth.
Full Arch Restoration Has a Number of Benefits
It is common for patients who undergo full-arch restorations to previously have tried other methods of replacing their teeth. Some patients already have dentures, bridges, or implants. Many patients have gone through multiple categories of teeth restoration until they decided to do a full arch. Full-arch restorations are similar to dental implants for the entire mouth. When a patient suffers from severe tooth loss, the procedure allows them to chew, speak, smile, and live a fuller life. Dental implants or prosthetics can last a lifetime and look and feel just like natural teeth. In comparison to temporary tooth replacements, they are more stable than dentures. As a result of their comfort and ability to prevent jaw bone loss, full arches are beneficial to patients missing a full mouth of teeth. It prevents deterioration of the jaw bone due to the weight of implants or prosthetic teeth. The result is a healthy face and jaw. Bone grafting may sometimes be necessary for the placement of dental implants. The long-term absence of large numbers of teeth increases the need for bone grafting.
Procedure Duration
The preparation of the implants may affect the length of the procedure. A complete set of implants is needed for the procedure to be effective. The time required will depend on the need for dental implants and bone grafting if necessary. A full-arch restoration generally requires three to four appointments with your dentist.
What does the Procedure Entail?
The first appointment will include an x-ray of your teeth and gums. After that, your dentist will proceed to take impressions and plan how to place the implants. It is possible to put implants in a separate session in the future. Implants must be installed through oral surgery. For full-arch restorations, as few as four dental implants can support prosthetic teeth. For a full mouth replacement, four implants are needed in the upper jaw and four implants in the lower jaw. Up to six dental implants may be necessary per arch. Immediately after implants are placed, prosthetic teeth are attached directly to them. Once the surgery is done, the patient will receive temporary prosthetic teeth and be able to go home. Following implant placement, it takes 10-15 weeks for the body to heal. Implants are secured with prosthetic teeth once they have recovered. Following-up appointments can be scheduled to ensure you are comfortable with your new teeth.
It is worth noting that the accumulation of plaque around dental implants can result in bleeding gums, gum disease, bone loss, and infection. Due to this, you should take extra care when eating and brushing your teeth.