Tooth loss can negatively impact your quality of life. From avoiding foods you used to love to feeling self-conscious every time you smile, an incomplete grin can become the source of many troubles in the long run. If this is your case, full mouth dental implants appear as a comprehensive and durable solution to extensive tooth loss.
Nevertheless, the idea of getting full mouth dental implants can be scary—and that’s normal. To feel reassured and decipher whether or not this is the right treatment for you, understanding what this process looks like is key.
What's the Process for Getting Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Full mouth implants are a durable and reliable option for replacing an entire arch of teeth. By inserting a series of implants precisely, you can restore your full mouth with a single treatment, improving your grin’s looks and recovering the ability to eat and speak with ease.
Here’s what the process for getting them looks like:
Step 1: Consultation and Evaluation
The first step of any implant procedure must be an extensive evaluation of the state of your mouth. We'll get a quick scan of your mouth and jaw with a visual assessment and imaging tools like dental X-rays or 3D imaging.
This allows us to better understand the health of your jawbone and whether or not you qualify for dental implants. If your jawbone density is low, implants won’t have anything to attach themselves to, leading to failure.
Nevertheless, there are other options for you if that is the case. For example, we can conduct a bone graft, a procedure that helps stimulate the jawbone and foster growth. There are other implant options, like zygomatic implants for your upper teeth or All on 4®, which make the most of the available bone.
Step 2: Personalized Smile Design
Once we’ve determined you’re up for a full mouth restoration, it’s time to decide what your new smile will look like.
There are many factors to consider during this step, from your skin color or the color of your gums, to the position of your ears and even your gender. Considering all these things, we want to create a natural smile that blends seamlessly with your facial traits.
Once we decide on a restoration, you can make any comments or alterations based on it. Our goal is to create a look you’re comfortable with.
Step 3: The Big Day: Implant Placement
This is the step when you get the first part of your implants placed, that is, the titanium post. Implants are made of three parts:
- The post is made of a biocompatible material like titanium, which can integrate with your natural bone in a process called osseointegration.
- The abutment, which connects the implant to the dental restoration.
- The prosthetic, designed to look and feel like natural teeth. When getting full mouth implants, this consists of a customized full arch of teeth.
During this step, we will conduct oral surgery to insert the implants into your jawbone. We will apply dental sedation to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure, and your oral surgeon will place the implants precisely based on your previous studies.
Step 5: Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the process by which tissues form around the post and incorporate it into the jawbone, resulting in a permanent implant. The implant material will become a permanent part of your jawbone because it is biocompatible, meaning your body shouldn't reject it during the fusing process.
This process can take three to six months for the lower jaw and up to seven months for the upper jaw. Only after that can the full prosthetic be attached.
Step 6: Placing the Abutment
The last step in the dental implant abutment procedure will be completed when your gums have healed. The abutment holds the full arch of implants in place.
Step 7: Placement of the Artificial Tooth or Teeth
At the end of the dental implant process, the final prosthetics are placed. The teeth are permanently attached to the abutment by screwing or cementing them onto the post, and you are done.
If you've opted for getting removable dentures, also known as snap-in dentures, you'll receive them in pink plastic gums that snap onto your abutment and can be removed for cleaning and maintenance.
How to Prepare for Full Mouth Dental Implants?
The full mouth implant procedure can feel a little intricate and complex, but clinical results show that dental implants are 95% to 98% successful for 40 to 50+ years. The secret to achieving these rates is following your dentist’s aftercare instructions and knowing what to expect about the process.
Some tips to help you prepare before implant surgery are:
Make Lifestyle Adjustments Before Surgery
The osseointegration process, which can determine whether or not an implant will be successful in the long run, can be easily put at risk by habits like smoking or drinking alcohol.
Smoking greatly reduces healing capacity and increases failure risk, so you should try to abandon this habit. Alcohol, on the other hand, can increase swelling or pain at the implant site, delaying healing and fostering infection.
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene on the days prior to your surgery to minimize bacteria is also important.
Follow Pre-Operative Instructions
The surgical team will provide detailed instructions before the surgery. Often, their recommendations will include avoiding eating or drinking 8–12 hours before, wearing comfortable clothing, and, in some cases, starting to take prophylactic antibiotics beforehand.
It’s also important you arrange for transportation and post-op assistance, as sedation can take more than 24 hours to leave your system.
Mental & Emotional Preparation
It's normal to feel anxious about your full-mouth implant surgery. If you have any remaining doubts, discuss them with your dental professional to help you feel at ease. Ask about the entire process, timeline, and possible complications.
This is a big change—but remember that the long-term benefits make it worthwhile.
Post-Surgery Recovery Preparation
You will probably feel sore and tired after surgery, so start setting up your home for a smooth recovery weeks before it. Stock up with soft, nutritious foods, and prepare cold packs for swelling.
Resting during recovery is important, so try to take as many days off as possible.
Feel Confident in Getting Full Mouth Dental Implants
The idea of getting full mouth dental implants can feel overwhelming and scary, but the benefits of this procedure are noticeable in the long run. By following your dentist’s aftercare instructions and preparing properly beforehand, getting full arch implants at Butura Oral and Dental Implant Surgery can be straightforward.
Besides these recommendations, it’s important that you maintain excellent oral hygiene habits and commit to your dentist’s suggested follow-up appointment. During these appointments, we’ll check that your implants are healing properly, so contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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