You should be cautious of anything described as “unstable.” A building, a bridge, a person, an economy: Instability in any of these cases signals the potential for disaster. That’s true of dentures, too, at least to a certain extent. Unstable dentures aren’t just uncomfortable. They may be downright unusable. But full mouth implants can give you the stability you need to chew, chat, and smile without second-guessing your teeth.
Dr. Matthew Keider is well-versed in today’s implant dentistry techniques. You can trust him to give you that full smile you’ve been missing for far too long.
What Are Full Mouth Implants?
Full mouth dental implants are a series of titanium posts that Dr. Keider places in your jawbone. A prosthetic then sits on top of the posts, giving you far greater stability and comfort than you would get with traditional dentures.
For many, this is an important advancement in oral health, as traditional dentures can cause:
- Difficulty eating: Traditional dentures don’t always provide the bite force you need to eat effectively. This can make meals frustrating and even affect your nutrition.
- Difficulty speaking: Some people have trouble speaking due to bulky, awkward dentures.
- Gum pain: Dentures that shift and rock against your gums and cause painful sores, inflammation, and bleeding.
- Restoration instability: Traditional dentures eventually require adjustment or replacement as your mouth changes after tooth loss. Without a proper fit, they can loosen and even slip out while you eat or laugh.
Full mouth implant dentures address these problems. Unfortunately, you may be ineligible for full mouth dental implants if you’ve experienced major bone resorption. Resorption refers to the loss of jawbone density that occurs as a consequence of extended periods of tooth loss.
Bone grafting, a preparation step for the implant procedure, may be an option for individuals with insufficient bone density. However, if you’ve experienced profound resorption, even that won’t be enough help.
Luckily, there’s another option.
Mini Dental Implants
Most patients are eligible for mini dental implants, even if they have experienced bone loss. Mini dental implants are about half the size of traditional implants, so we can typically anchor them in the bone you do have.
Unlike traditional implants, mini implants don’t require us to make incisions in your gums or drill large holes in your jaw. Plus, they fuse with your jawbone in weeks, whereas traditional implants take months to do so.
Dr. Keider will apply a local anesthetic before he places mini implants through your gums and into the jaw. From there, he attaches a temporary restoration to the other end of the implant posts. After your mouth has healed over the course of a couple of weeks, you’ll return to the office to be fitted with your permanent full mouth restoration.
What Types of Full Mouth Implant Restorations Are There?
Dr. Keider has several full mouth restorations on offer:
- Overdentures: If you otherwise like your original dentures, Dr. Keider may be able to modify them so they snap onto dental implants. However, we can make you a brand new denture if needed. Dr. Keider will then place 4-6 mini implants in the lower jaw or 6-8 in your upper to anchor the restoration. With this option, you unsnap the prosthetic at night, sort of like you do with a normal denture. However, they don’t require adhesives and are much more stable than traditional dentures.
- Semi-removable roundhouse bridge: This restoration is also known as the Fix-on-Six® system. It uses 6-10 mini implants to support a custom zirconia roundhouse bridge. You don’t remove the restoration at night. However, Dr. Keider will remove it during regularly scheduled cleanings.
- Non-removable roundhouse bridge: Dr. Keider cements this restoration to 10-12 mini implants. It stays in place permanently, giving you the most secure and natural-looking prosthetic possible.
Dr. Keider will discuss the above options at length with you during your consultation.
The Benefits of Full Mouth Implants
Full mouth mini implants don’t just correct the drawbacks of traditional dentures. They have other benefits, too, including:
- Decreased cost: Mini implants are smaller and simpler than traditional implants. Plus, we seldom need to place a bone graft to secure them. The result is a drastically more cost-effective procedure.
- Limited invasiveness: Mini implants don’t require gum incisions or stitches, making them a less invasive option than traditional implants. As a result, they heal more quickly.
- Reduced pain: Patients typically experience only mild discomfort following the procedure.
- Simplified procedure: Dr. Keider can place mini implants quickly and attach your temporary restoration to them immediately. That means you’ll never have to go without teeth.
In addition to these benefits, mini dental implants have a success rate of 97% over 10 years. This makes them a reliable choice for long-term tooth replacement.
Contact Us in Winston-Salem To Stabilize Your Smile!
Dr. Keider can help you get the best performance from your dental prosthetic. If your traditional dentures aren’t meeting your needs anymore, contact us today to explore full mouth implants for lasting comfort, stability, and a natural appearance.
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