Full Mouth Dental Implants Procedure

Dental implants mimic the roots of the teeth and can provide stable, comfortable support for crowns or for a full dental bridge.  Full mouth dental implants are designed to be durable and to function like natural teeth, allowing you to bite and chew food naturally.  You may be familiar with conventional dentures, which are often ill-fitting and uncomfortable, in addition to interfering with the taste of food.  Unlike conventional dentures, full mouth dental implants don’t require the use of smelly adhesives, and they don’t interfere with eating or enjoying food.  Not only are dental implants comfortable and functional, they also provide stability to the surrounding bone, actually helping preserve the bone and contributing to its health. Without a root present, adjacent bone begins to deteriorate, which is why some people with conventional dentures may appear to have a sunken jaw.  Implants prevent this and allow you to maintain a youthful, strong jawline.

The first step in a full mouth dental implant procedure is a consultation with a dentist.  Once you have selected your dental team, you will have a CT scan or an x-ray, to help determine the ideal placement for your implants, and to diagnose any potential underlying issues.  If any teeth must be extracted and given time to heal, this will also be done in an initial visit.  On the day of your implant procedure, you will first be anesthetized.  You and your dentist will discuss the type of anesthesia and outline any directions or precautions beforehand.  Once you are anesthetized, your dental surgeon will place the implants, which are small metal cylinders, into your jaw.  Over the next 4-6 months, the bone surrounding these implants will heal, growing around the implants and integrating with the implant, creating a stable, strong foundation.  While the implants are healing, you will be given a temporary dental bridge so that your mouth will be functional as it heals.  Once the bone has fully healed around the implants, your dentist will uncover the tops of the implants and attach abutments, which are clasps that the dental crowns can attach to, to the exposed tops of the implants.  Then, your gums will be given time to heal before the dentures are placed.  Some implants do not require the installation of this abutment, which is already built onto the implant; talk to your dentist to determine which type is better for you.  The dentist will tighten and test the abutment before affixing a full denture that was custom-designed specifically for you.  After a brief period of adjustment, your ability to chew and speak normally will be restored, and you’ll be able to smile confidently once again.  In some cases, some of the steps of a full mouth dental implant procedure can be combined with others, thereby shortening the overall duration of the procedure.  Your team of dental professionals will make sure to review all the possibilities with you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have specific needs or desires.  Your smile is worth it.

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