For many years, dentures were considered the only solution for replacing multiple or all missing teeth. But thanks to modern technology and advances in the dental implant dentistry, you have the choice of having Teeth-in-a-Day® restorations. This surgical and prosthetic process gives you dental implants and replacement teeth all in the same day to restore your smile after tooth loss.
This treatment is an excellent option for those who have lost most or all of their teeth, for those whose teeth are not salvageable due to gum disease or decay, or for those whose removable dentures hurt or are unstable.
How Healthy Is Your Jawbone?
To be eligible for this restorative treatment, your general health needs to be good, and you need enough healthy jaw bone volume and density to support the implants and withstand the biting forces from chewing. In most cases, with this Teeth in a Day protocol, the implants are strong enough to support the new prosthetic teeth on the day of surgery.
With this treatment, we can replace an entire upper or lower arch of teeth (or both) with prosthetic teeth in just one appointment with our surgeon. This is accomplished by using four to six dental implants per arch, and anchoring a bridge which spans 12-14 teeth.
From Consultation to Preparation
A consultation will help us evaluate whether or not you are a viable candidate for this treatment. Your medical and dental history will be taken into consideration, and your mouth thoroughly examined. A cone beam CT scan will be done to create a 3-D image of the jaw bone so we can precisely evaluate the structure and anatomy of your jaws and teeth. Other diagnostic records such as dental impressions and photographs may also be taken.
When you are confirmed as a good candidate, our doctor will work with your restorative dentist and a dental laboratory technician to create a treatment plan for you. The prosthesis will be made prior to the date of surgery, so that it can be fitted to the implants on that day. We will discuss your treatment plan and give cost estimates at a preoperative treatment conference. In addition, we will give you preoperative instructions and prescriptions.
Dental Implant Procedure
In most cases, patients elect to undergo the procedure using IV sedation. Once sedated, local anesthetic injections will also be given to insure adequate pain control both during the procedure and immediately post op. The indicated teeth will be removed and the jaw structure contoured to receive the implants. The implants will then be placed and the tissue sutured. In some cases, computer guided surgery allows us to do the procedure with minimal invasiveness, which reduces post op swelling and discomfort. Once the implants are in position and appropriate stability is confirmed, the prosthesis which has been made prior to surgery will be fitted to the implants. This prosthesis will be temporary during the transitional healing period of 3-4 months. A final prosthesis will then be made by your restorative dentist after the implants have had enough time to fully integrate with the bone. This final prosthesis is made out of stronger materials which are designed for full chewing loads over a longer time frame.
What to Expect After the Surgery
After surgery there will be some degree of post – operative swelling and discomfort. We will instruct you in appropriate after care. You will be restricted to a soft diet for the first 3-4 months while the implants are integrating to the bone. Although the implants are stable enough to eat with on day 1, they are not stable enough for heavy chewing function for several months. We will check you several times during the healing process to make sure everything is going smoothly. Once you are given the clearance to proceed to the final prosthesis, you will be able to eat a normal diet.
If you want to eat, smile and speak with confidence again, we look forward to talking to you more about our Teeth-in-a-Day tooth replacement option, so give us a call today!