Dental Implants as a Full Mouth Reconstruction Option

Dental implants have two important benefits. One, they anchor dental restorations and prosthodontics to create permanent artificial teeth. Two, they embed in the jaw where they stimulate the regrowth of bone tissue. These upsides translate into a functional set of teeth that create a brilliant and healthy smile.

The benefits that the previous paragraph describes also happen to be the goals of full mouth reconstruction. Here is how dental implants work to restore the look and function of a person’s teeth.

Dental implants and how they work

A dental implant is a small, biocompatible rod that embeds in the jaw. Upon placement in the jaw, the implant starts to integrate with surrounding bone tissue. The eventual stability of the implant provides an anchor to a dental restoration of the patient’s and dentist’s choosing.

The process of placing dental implants takes one or more procedures. The first procedure involves the installation of the implant in the jaw. Once the implant fuses with the bone, the patient undergoes a second procedure, where an oral surgeon or dentist attaches an abutment or connector. The final procedure is the simplest one. It involves attaching a dental restoration to the abutment.

Some dentists will combine two or more steps into a single procedure. This is often the case with treatment options like same-day crowns or teeth in a day.

How dental implants improve the outcome of full mouth reconstruction

Full mouth reconstruction is the repair or replacement of most or all teeth in the mouth. Dentists recommend this course of treatment to patients with the following situations going on:

• People who lose most or all of their teeth because of injury
• Patients that lose their teeth to gum disease or some other oral health issue
• People who lose their teeth because of age or health-related issues
• Individuals with severe orthodontic problems

A person who falls under any of these categories is a candidate for full mouth reconstruction. Dentists recommend dental implants if their patients are healthy enough to undergo dental implant surgery. Here are a few ways that dental implants restore patients’ teeth:

1. Implant-supported crowns

The patient that has a few missing teeth is a good candidate for implant-supported crowns. This course of treatment is also an option for the person that has many missing teeth and is willing to get an implant for each tooth. In practice though, a dentist will recommend a different type of artificial teeth for the patient with many missing teeth.

2. Implant-supported bridges

A bridge fills a gap created by several missing teeth. Sometimes the dentist will anchor a dental bridge with healthy teeth, a process that involves:

• Removing some enamel from the two healthy teeth that flank the gap
• Fitting a crown over said teeth
• Attaching the bridge onto the newly installed crown

The removal of enamel from perfectly healthy teeth is a downside that a dentist may advise against. Instead, they will recommend that a healthy patient get implant-supported crowns on both ends of the gap. These crowns then act as supports for an implant-supported bridge.

3. Overdentures

For the person who has few or no remaining teeth, a set of permanent dentures are the best way to replace their teeth. The installation of overdentures involves the strategic placement of several dental implants along each dental arch. These implants become anchors for a set of custom dentures that have holes that line up with the locations of the implants. The holes have screw threads, which come in handy when the dentist connects the dentures and abutments with screws.

You can turn your smile around and enjoy a brilliant set of functional teeth

Your teeth may need a complete makeover, but it does not have to remain that way. Call our practice to take advantage of the vast experience of our team. You owe it to yourself to explore how dental implants can breathe new life into your smile.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.