12
Apr
A Permanent Solution for Missing Teeth: Everything You Need to Know About Full-Mouth Dental Implants
No one anticipates losing all their teeth, yet it can happen due to accidents, decay, or advanced gum disease. The good news is that living without teeth isn’t your only option. Full-mouth dental implants from Dr. Wayne Sutton at Santa Rosa Dentistry and Implant Center in Santa Rosa, California, can be a lifesaver for individuals missing an entire dental arch. These implants provide stability and a natural appearance and can restore oral function to nearly 100%.
What Are Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
Full-mouth dental implants are a solution for patients missing an entire upper or lower arch of teeth. While individual implants are an option, replacing every lost tooth with a single implant can be prohibitively expensive. Instead, full-mouth dental implants use 4 to 6 strategically placed implants to support a complete arch of teeth.
What Are Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
If you have lost a single tooth, you need a single dental implant to replace it. However, if you have lost an entire arch of teeth, do you need an implant for every tooth lost? It’s possible, but going this route will cost an arm and a leg. That’s where full-mouth dental implants come into play.
By strategically placing four to six dental implants in your mouth, we can replace an entire arch of your missing teeth, whether in the upper or lower jaw. Our dentistry uses full-arch Prettau® Bridges — carved out from a solid block of zirconia — to replace your missing teeth. While a full arch zirconium bridge serves the same function as acrylic denture teeth, these restorations are more stable, life-like, and durable.
What Can I Expect During the Implant Placement Process?
With a few key differences, getting full-mouth dental implants is similar to single-tooth implants. The journey begins with a comprehensive consultation, including digital X-rays, CT scans, and a review of your medical history. This is done to ensure you’re a good candidate for implant surgery.
If you’re approved for the procedure, Dr. Sutton and his team will plan to place 4 to 6 implants in areas of your jaw with the most bone density, typically at the front and back of the mouth.
Once the implants are placed, a temporary acrylic denture is attached to allow you to maintain your smile while your mouth heals. It usually takes 4 to 6 months for the implants to fully fuse with the jawbone in a process known as osseointegration. After healing, your temporary denture is replaced with a custom-made zirconia bridge, giving you a fully restored and functional set of teeth.
What is the lifespan of full-arch dental implants?
The implants themselves are designed to last a lifetime with proper care. This includes maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine—brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and seeing your dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups. Just as you care for your natural teeth, your implants should be given similar attention.
The Prettau® Zirconia bridges used in our full-arch restorations are also exceptionally durable. Traditional acrylic dentures typically need replacement every 10 to 15 years due to wear and tear from daily use. However, zirconia bridges are significantly stronger, offering long-term resilience. With proper care, these bridges can last a lifetime, making them a worthy investment for those seeking a permanent tooth replacement solution.
Why Are Full-Arch Prettau® Zirconia Bridges Preferred Over Traditional Dentures?
Many patients who struggle with conventional dentures find zirconia bridges a superior alternative. While traditional implant-retained dentures offer stability, full-mouth zirconia bridges provide several additional benefits:
- Enhanced Durability: Zirconia is ten times stronger than acrylic, making it resistant to chipping and wear.
- Natural Appearance: The high-quality materials mimic the look of natural teeth, blending seamlessly with your smile.
- Improved Stability: These bridges’ fixed nature prevents movement or slipping, ensuring confidence when eating, speaking, or smiling.
- Low Maintenance: Unlike dentures, zirconia bridges are easier to maintain, requiring only regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups.
If you’re missing most or all of your teeth, full-mouth dental implants could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Call (707) 542-6772 to learn more or schedule a consultation.
Dr. Wayne Sutton
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Dr. Sutton is one of the premier cosmetic dentists in Sonoma County, and with over 20 years of experience, his implant center maintains a standard of excellence using the strongest dental implant bridge currently available to provide predictable full mouth dental implant reconstructions.
Dr. Sutton completed his postgraduate studies at The Pacific Aesthetic Continuum in San Francisco and received his doctorate, three years of experience as a clinical instructor, and the coveted “Clinical Excellence Award” from UCSF School of Dentistry in 1997. He also earned his Fellowship in the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics and studied Advanced Occlusion at the Hornbrook Group.
Dr. Sutton continues to take four times the annual continuing education requirements to maintain his license. As a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (awarded his Fellowship), the Academy of General Dentistry (Fellowships status), the American Dental Implant Association (Diplomat status), the American Dental Association, the American Academy for Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Sutton is also a select cosmetic dentist recognized as an Official Dentist of the Mrs. Globe – Mrs. USA Pageants.