Missing teeth can cause embarrassment and difficulty eating or speaking. Many patients who have lost their teeth use dentures to improve their oral function and appearance. However, dentures are not a long term solution.
If you’re wearing dentures, it might be time to consider dental implants. Full arch implants can replace your missing teeth all at once. Here’s why you should consider switching from dentures to implants.
The drawbacks to dentures
There are a few major drawbacks to wearing dentures. First, they need to be removed and cleaned every night. Some are uncomfortable to wear all day. They can slip, or need extra adhesive. Finally, your face shape may even change due to jawbone loss. While dentures are a lower-cost solution to missing teeth, their drawbacks can be frustrating to new and long-term users alike.
The benefits of full arch implants
Fortunately, dental implants can help restore your smile. Instead of replacing each missing tooth individually, full arch implants replace an entire arch at once. Benefits include:
- Fewer anchors: If you were to individually replace all of your missing teeth, you’d need 16 different anchors in each jaw. Full arch implants only use six anchors. After these “roots” are implanted and your jaw has healed, a full bridge is attached to the anchors.
- A long-term solution: Dentures are removable, making them a temporary solution to missing teeth. You’ll likely need to replace them multiple times over the years. While you can wear dentures for decades, it’s no substitute for natural teeth or implants. Dental implants are anchored in your mouth and function just like real teeth. All you have to do is brush and floss to keep your oral tissue healthy.
- Eat and speak normally: When we lose teeth, it can affect our ability to eat and speak normally. Dental implants are long term fixtures which make it much easier to eat and speak. They’ll never slip or come loose, unlike dentures.
- Retain or improve your facial shape: Missing teeth can also affect your face shape. Dental implants restore your natural look, and can actually help preserve your jawbone density.
How full arch implants work
First, Dr. Mike will perform an examination to make sure you’re a good candidate for full arch implants. Patients who have significant bone loss may need bone grafts before implants can be placed.
If bone grafts are required, that procedure is performed first. Your jaw must be allowed to heal, which can take several months. After it’s healed, the five anchors are implanted into your jaw. You’ll get temporary teeth to use while your jawbone heals once more.
After the bone heals around the implant anchors, the temporary teeth are removed. Then the bridge is placed, which functions as your new teeth. If you need additional connecting devices, these can also be placed at the same time.
Ultimately, full arch implants are a great way to replace multiple missing teeth at once, and lose the dentures forever. If you’d like to find out whether you’re eligible for full arch implants, call the Cleveland Implant Institute today.