You may experience tooth loss for any number of reasons. It can happen due to facial trauma, severe infection, or simple dental neglect. No matter the cause of tooth loss, the effects can be serious, including impaired function and compromised facial aesthetics. No matter the extent of your tooth loss, full arch treatment offers you the option to smile again. At Kansas City Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, we provide full arch treatment, based on the cutting-edge All-on-4® dental implant method,  for total dental restoration.

The Benefits

There are several reasons why we recommend full arch treatment:

  • With full arch treatment, you can replace any number of teeth, including an entire arch of upper or lower teeth or a row of teeth.
  • Full arch treatment provides seamless results. Your replacement teeth will be custom-made to look and behave just like your natural teeth.
  • Our oral surgeons can replace entire arches of teeth with just a handful of carefully positioned dental implants. This method abbreviates your surgery time and your recovery.
  • With the All-on-4 method, you can eat and chew just like normal, without any of the compromises associated with dentures.

Ideal Candidates

Virtually anyone who has experienced significant tooth loss is a candidate for full arch restoration. Depending on your level of jawbone loss, you may need to have bone grafting performed to prepare your mouth for surgery. To learn more about your eligibility for a safe and successful treatment, simply schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons.

What is Involved in the Process?

During your initial consultation, your oral surgeon will examine your teeth, gums, and jaws, while also reviewing medical images. This information will help guide your personalized treatment plan.

For full arch surgery, you will be welcomed by our clinical care team, then led to a clean, comfortable treatment room. Your surgeon will administer anesthesia to promote your comfort. Once you have been properly sedated, your oral surgeon will create small incisions in your gums, carefully placing dental implants into the jawbone. In some cases, bone grafting material may be included at the same time. Dental prostheses are also positioned to ensure the proper function of your smile.

Types of Replacement Options

Lower Teeth

If you are missing all of your lower teeth, there are a few full arch treatment options to consider.

  • Ball attachment. The ball attachment option involves two implants carefully placed in the lower jaw, and then a denture is snapped onto them.
  • Bar attachment. A bar attachment denture involves four to six implants, depending on your jaw size. An overdenture is positioned on top.
  • Screw retained. With this method, a handful of implants are put into place, and a permanent denture is secured into place using screws.
  • Individual implants. We can also restore your teeth using individual implants, which best replicate the appearance of naturally growing teeth through the gums.

Upper Teeth

Treatment options are also available if you are missing all or most of your upper teeth.

  • Implant retained upper denture. This option allows you to avoid covering the roof of your mouth with a denture. We simply use dental implants to provide a natural-looking restoration.
  • Individual upper implants. We may also be able to provide individual upper implants, which help replicate the look of naturally growing teeth through the gums. This can take anywhere from six to 10 implants.

The Recovery Phase

Following full arch restoration, we will discharge you with a full set of written aftercare and recovery instructions. You can expect some tenderness and swelling for about a week, but these symptoms may be managed with simple over-the-counter remedies. You will also need to start out with soft foods and liquid foods, gradually shifting back to a regular diet as you feel able.

You’re in Good Hands with Us

Full arch treatment can restore your ability to eat, talk, and smile with confidence. We provide personalized treatment options to help you enjoy robust dental health. Call one of our three convenient locations to schedule a consultation with Kansas City Dental Implants and Oral Surgery.