A growing number of people are experiencing issues with their teeth, gums, or overall dental health due to tooth decay, failing teeth, missing teeth, severe gum disease, or other major dental disorders. Dental problems can substantially impact an individual’s ability to eat, smile, or even talk comfortably, which in turn can lower self-esteem. Fortunately, many options are now available to replace missing or failing teeth and restore your natural smile.
Dental implants are becoming more popular in the United States and worldwide as an alternative to traditional dentures because they are easier to maintain and longer lasting than dentures. While regular dentures can help restore your smile, they don’t look or operate like natural teeth, and they tend to move around, making eating and speaking difficult. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), about three million people in the U.S. have dental implants, a number that is increasing by 500,000 annually.
This cost-effective solution to missing teeth boasts a success rate of up to 98% and looks and functions just like natural teeth while also supporting your facial features.
What Are Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Full mouth dental implant restoration or complete arch restoration helps restore multiple failing or missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw bone in one complete bridge. This technique utilizes a series of dental implants embedded in the jaw bone with a set of outer teeth supported by dental implants.
The first step in a full-mouth implant involves extracting any remaining problematic teeth. Then four dental implants are placed in the proper position and angle. Before a bridge or overdenture is placed, the four implant screws are strategically placed into the jawbone. The dental bridge is also attached to the implants using four abutments. There are three different dental materials to pick from: acrylic, porcelain, and zirconia. Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all patients, it’s best to consult an implant specialist or an oral surgeon at Precision Oral Surgery about your treatment options.
Types of Full Mouth Dental Implants
There are many types of full-mouth dental implants currently available. Although these dental implants help restore lost or damaged teeth, they do so differently.
Some of the common types of full mouth implants include:
- Implant-supported dental bridges – This works similarly to traditional bridges. But instead of being supported by dental crowns placed over neighboring teeth, implant-supported bridges are supported by small titanium posts placed in the jaw.
- Implant-supported full dentures – Considered as the middle ground between conventional dentures and advanced full-arch dental implants. Implant-supported full dentures surgically place four to six implants into the jaw bone and then attach dentures to these implants. Depending on how the implants and the overdenture are created, the overdenture can be permanently fixed and removed for cleaning purposes.
- All-on-4 implants – This treatment offers a convenient option for restoring missing teeth without placing individual implants for each tooth. Instead, four titanium implants are used to restore either the upper or lower arch of teeth.
- All-on-6 implants – This is based on the same concept as all-on-4 dental implants, but instead of four, this dental procedure uses six implants to restore either the lower or upper arch of teeth. This treatment option is most suitable for patients with enough natural bone in the jaw.
- Same-day full mouth dental implants – This treatment option grants patients the opportunity to replace damaged natural teeth with artificial teeth immediately rather than in months. With traditional implants, patients will have to wait for several months for the jaw bone to heal and for the implants to fuse to it.
The right treatment option depends on various factors, including your specific condition, treatment expectations, and oral health. Consult with an oral surgeon at Precision Oral Surgery to determine the right procedure for you.
What Is The Cost Of Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Full mouth dental implants can be very costly, however, here at Precision Oral Surgery we pride ourselves in being able to offer world class care at a price that beats any other office. We are able to offer these discounts to our patients because we have our own in house laboratory and we work very closely with the implant manufacturers. The average price for a surgery for the teeth in a day procedure (aka All on 4 or All on 6) is $12,500. However, many factors can influence the overall cost of a full-mouth dental implant procedure.
The average cost of a full mouth dental implant generally includes the cost of the following services:
- Consultation – You will need a dental consultation before the surgery to determine if the procedure is the right solution to replacing your missing or failing teeth. This procedure depends mainly on how much healthy jaw bone you have left and whether or not you have any underlying health conditions that may affect the healing process.
- Imaging and scans – Your doctor will take imaging scans, such as X-rays, to determine the best dental implant placement. The doctor will also use details from these scans to check on your jaw bone and its health.
- Extractions of damaged or decayed teeth – If you have any badly decayed or damaged teeth, they will have to be extracted before the full-mouth dental surgery. Tooth extractions are usually a simple oral surgery.
- Dental Implant placement – When all the teeth are removed, the dental implants are placed into the jaw bone. Regardless of how many dental implants we need to place, the overall fee for our patients does NOT change.
Factors Affecting The Cost Of Full Mouth Dental Implants
The overall cost of a full mouth dental implant treatment depends on various factors, including:
- The brand of the implants chosen – Premium implant brands are generally more expensive due to additional supportive or retentive features at other offices. However, at Precision Oral Surgery, we only use the most premium materials and implants and will never alter the price of our services because of it.
- Prior work – Any preparatory dental work, such as bone graft, infection control, or bone or gum contouring, which may be required to give a better profile for the surgical procedure, can increase the overall cost.
- The dentist’s expertise – Dentists with years of experience generally charge more.
- Where you live – The cost of dental procedures can vary based on the location of your dental clinic. For example, the West Coast is usually more expensive than many places on the East Coast. This can affect your overall cost for implant surgery. Furthermore, getting implants in the city is typically more expensive than in a smaller town or suburb.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered a cosmetic procedure; thus, only a small portion of the procedure may be covered by insurance plans. However, some dental insurance plans cover up to 50% of major restoration procedures, including dental implants. Talk to your benefits coordinator to see what is covered and how you can reduce your cost.
You can also reduce the overall dental implant cost by using other payment methods. Many dental clinics offer payment plans to help patients split up the cost over time. Ask your dentist if they provide interest-free, in-house financing options to help you cover the cost. In addition to these alternative payment methods, you can also use a dental savings plan to save money.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Full Mouth Dental Implants?
The ideal candidates for full-mouth dental implants are those with sufficient jaw bone structure and gum tissue to support the implants. Candidates must also be in good health and free of significant medical conditions that could affect recovery. To ensure the success of dental implants, patients must undergo a full medical evaluation by an oral surgeon before being cleared for a full mouth implant option.
Patients should have realistic expectations from the procedure and commit to proper care and oral hygiene during the treatment plan to enhance recovery. This includes daily brushing and flossing. Although full mouth implants are an expensive option, they are one of the most convenient, effective, and long-lasting tooth replacement options for achieving a beautiful smile and permanent teeth.
If you are interested in dental implants please contact us today. We have two convenient locations in Greeley and Thornton, Colorado.
