Losing the odd tooth, here and there, is probably more or less manageable for most people and is often simply one of those things that tends to happen as we grow older (though good oral health practice will certainly improve your chances of avoiding it). When a full arch of teeth are lost though, it can be quite devastating and cause some soul searching when it comes to the best way to replace them.
While dentures are still the best known solution, they can present problems for some people. In today’s blog then we take a look at an alternative solution in the form of full arch dental implants.
Before we look at the pros and cons, just a reminder that this method, sometimes also called ‘teeth in a day’ or ‘all on four’ means placing four or six dental implants into the arch and attaching a fixed bridge of teeth to them to provide a strong and secure set of replacement teeth.
It has to be said that the cheapest option available (other than having no teeth!) is to use dentures. We have all seen cartons of them flying out of the mouth though, and although this is an exaggeration, they can prove to be quite unstable for some people, while full mouth dental implants offer a solution that avoids this issue altogether.
One downside of this is that they are more costly than dentures. Having said that; unlike dentures, they should require no further adjustment once integrated into the mouth, unlike dentures which may need to be adjusted or repaired. We also offer a selection of payment plans at our Witham dental practice to help you spread the cost of your treatment.
Anyone who has lost all teeth on an arch or perhaps has just the odd one left might find this method to be an excellent solution. Because of the way the implants are placed, they are also more likely to be suitable even for those with less bone into which to place the implants.
Unlike dentures, they can be cleaned while in the mouth and don’t require soaking overnight. All in all, they are ideal for anyone who wants to forget that they have missing teeth and just wants to eat and socialise without the worry that their false teeth might move around.
As mentioned, they are stronger and more stable and this means that patients don’t have to worry about whether they can eat certain foods or not as is sometimes the case with denture wearers. Healthy dental implants should facilitate chewing steak or biting into a crispy apple with no trouble at all. There is no messing about with denture adhesive either. Once placed and integrated, your full arch implants should give you many trouble free years of use.
Great improvements have been made in the aesthetics of dentures over the years, but even good quality dentures are likely to look less realistic than implants. Even if they only move a little, people can notice and that can knock the patient’s confidence in some cases. Full mouth implants don’t only look like natural teeth but also offer support for the cheeks that would otherwise appear sunken and age your appearance as well.
Strictly speaking, dental implants are not permanent as such. However, providing that you look after your new implants, with good quality brushing and seeing our Witham dentist and hygienist every six months or so, they could last you for twenty years or more. In fact, the very first implants that were placed, back in the 1960s, outlasted the patient and had remained in place for over forty years. Dentures are likely to last for a shorter period of time, whether through the patient’s face shape changing or through breakage, often caused by dropping them in the sink when cleaning them.
In our opinion, full mouth implants are well worth it, providing that you are a suitable candidate and are prepared to look after them properly (essentially, the same as you should your own natural teeth). If you are unsure whether this is the best option for you or not, please contact us so that we can arrange an initial consultation with one of our implant dentists. There you can discuss in detail and have any questions you might have answered. To do this, simply give Blake Dental a call on 01376 501688 and speak to one of our friendly receptionists who will be able to help.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
