What Is a Fixed Full Arch Restoration?

What is a Fixed Full Arch Restoration?

A fixed full arch restoration aims to replace an entire arch of missing or failing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. This advanced treatment uses dental implants and crowns to permanently restore dental function and aesthetics.

Implants are small titanium posts that integrate with the jawbone, essentially becoming new tooth roots. Custom prosthetic teeth are securely fastened over the implants via abutments. The components involve:

• 4-6 titanium implants - fused to jawbone for stability
• Abutments - connectors affixed to implants
• Screws - fasten prosthetic teeth to abutments
• Prosthetic teeth - full set crowns mimicking natural teeth

This creates a complete set of natural-feeling replacement teeth designed to handle regular eating and chewing. Unlike removable options which can slip or require adhesives, fixed full arch restorations are securely bolted to the implants for total stability and confidence.

How Do Fixed Full Arch Restorations Compare?

Fixed full arch options contrast other tooth replacements:

• Removable Implant-Supported Dentures
  • Less implants used
  • Prosthesis still removable
  • May need adhesives
  • Higher cost than traditional dentures
• Traditional Full Dentures
  • No implants
  • Use adhesives to stabilize
  • Reduce in efficacy over time
  • Higher long-term costs

Fixed full arch restorations provide the best durability, function, and convenience for those requiring total tooth loss solutions.

Restoration Type	Fixed or Removable	Use of Implants	Resembles Natural Teeth
Fixed Full Arch	Fixed	Yes	Highly
Implant-Supported Dentures	Removable	Yes	Moderately
Traditional Dentures	Removable	No	Slightly

This table compares the key characteristics. Fixed full arch replacements are integrated into the jawbone for optimal security and confidence when speaking, smiling, laughing, and eating.

Components of Full Arch Fixed Restorations

There are several integral parts of a fixed full arch restoration:

Implants

Implants fused to the jawbone provide sturdy anchors for attaching the prosthetic teeth. Common implant materials like titanium integrate seamlessly over 3-6 months. The interface also protects jawbone integrity.

Abutments

These small connectors are mounted on the implants to facilitate attaching the prosthetic teeth via screws into the implant threads. They are measured and custom-fitted for each patient.

Prosthetic Teeth

Acrylic or zirconia-based crowns mimic natural teeth in size, shape and color. They are specially designed to clip securely into the abutments. Some minor tooth preparation may refine fit.

Durability comes from maintaining integrity of integration between the implants and living bone. Careful surgical technique preserves blood supply allowing for proper osseointegration.

All parts are customized to the patient’s mouth. Computer-aided design and 3D printing help create accurately fitting full arch restorations.

Benefits of Fixed Full Arch Restorations

Patients choosing fixed full arch restorations enjoy advantages over conventional removable dentures and partial plates. Integrating implants for support opens the door to a new level of stability, performance, and confidence.

Restored Dental Function

Fixed implant-supported teeth allow patients to eat, chew, bite and tear food properly using the full occlusal force that natural teeth provide. The prosthetic teeth resist cracking or chipping from contact.

They restore:

• Chewing ability - implants do not displace or loosen from mastication stresses. Bite force transmits safely to the jawbone through osseointegration.
• Eating capacity - patients can eat anything, without food getting stuck under loose plates. Hard foods like apples, carrots, nuts and meats get processed efficiently.
• Clear balanced speech - with total tooth support, patients speak clearly without slurring or mumbling from loose appliances.

Patients remark how fixed restorations give them back the dental functionality they assumed was gone forever after losing their teeth. It’s a rebirth that frees them from restrictive diets, pain and reduced social lives imposed by full tooth loss and ill-fitting dentures.

Improved Comfort and Stability

Fixed implant restorations remain completely stable in the mouth without need for messy pastes or adhesive strips to hold them in place. They feel like biological teeth both above and below the gumline.

The custom-designed structure also keeps the lips and facial muscles from caving inward after tooth removal. This helps patients feel like they have their natural face back. Family and friends delight seeing their renewed smile, speech and appearance.

Maintained Facial Structure and Bone Density

Tooth loss brings jawbone atrophy which can cause aging effects on facial features and structure. Dentures poorly stimulate underlying bone, accelerating deterioration. This table summarizes differences:

Bone Loss Risk Factors	With Fixed Restorations	With Dentures/Partial Plates
Chewing Impact Forces	Transferred to Implants	Absorbed By Gums/Bone
Gum/Bone Stimulation	Implants Integrate In Bone	No Root Structure
Bone Loss Over 5 Years	<10%	Up To 60%

Because fixed implant teeth transfer forces through the implants fusing with jawbone, atrophy decelerates preserving facial bone integrity. Patients keep a more youthful side profile.

Excellent Esthetic Qualities

Fixed implant-supported teeth are crafted to precisely match shade and contour of original teeth at various ages. Custom molds ensure gumline edges follow natural curvatures for a seamless emergence from the gingiva.

Zirconia or dental ceramics make restorations stain-resistant with translucent life-like layers mimicking real dentin and enamel. Technicians position and size teeth to symmetrical natural spacing. The prosthetics blend attractively with surrounding teeth.

Patients beam with joy when seeing their makeover reveal. It’s like turning back the clock 20 years.

Durability and Longevity

Full arch fixed restorations are built to last 10-15 years or longer. The full-contour prosthetic teeth are thicker than veneers to resist chipping and fracture. The solid integration between titanium implants and living bone remains intact to support biting function.

With good oral hygiene and avoiding extreme overload, the restorations serve beyond initial expectations.

Alternatives to Fixed Full Arch Restorations

While fixed full arch restorations provide substantial benefits for treating complete tooth loss, alternative methods also exist. Each has their own sets of pros and cons.

Removable Implant-Supported Dentures

Removable dentures over implants use less implants (2-4) with attachment housings that snap into the prosthesis. They are less costly than fixed full arch options.

Advantages:

• Less surgical placement sites
• Initially lower cost
• Easier to clean and inspect tissue

Disadvantages:

• Still removable - less stable feeling
• Needs periodic reline appointments
• Less chewing capacity
• Needs nightly removal

These provide a minimally invasive way to stabilize loose fitting conventional dentures but come with typical removable appliance considerations.

Traditional Full Dentures

Full removable dentures without implants rely on suction and bone/gum compression alone to retain. Two forms exist:

Immediate Dentures - inserted right after extractions. Benefits include no gap in function but frequent relines are needed as the ridge resorbs. Not very stable initially.

Conventional Dentures - made after healing, for better fit as tissues settle. Has a gap after extractions. Stability reduces over years as bone loss occurs.

Ongoing fillers, pastes and remakes are needed for usable life. Still the most economic option for replacing a whole arch of teeth but with significant downsides.

Comparison Table

Category	Fixed Full Arch	Implant Supported Dentures	Conventional Dentures
Cost	Highest	Medium	Lowest
Stability	Excellent	Moderate	Limited
Chewing Ability	Full Strength	Moderate	Highly Limited
Esthetics	Exceptional	Very Good	Average
Longevity	Up to 15 years	3-5 Years	6 months-5 years

This summarizes how the three compare for major considerations around full arch tooth replacement.

Partial Fixed Restorations

If some healthy teeth remain, a partial restoration may be appropriate. While lower cost, preparation for crowns or bridges sacrifices original tooth structure. These also rely on the longevity of neighboring teeth.

For advanced complete tooth loss, a fixed full arch replacement provides the optimum restorative solution for durability, performance and lifelike longevity.

Ideal Candidates in Hallandale

In the Hallandale, Florida area, fixed full arch restorations transform lives when remaining natural teeth fail extensively and removing them becomes necessary. Good candidates for this advanced reconstruction exhibit:

Extensive Tooth Loss

• Missing most or all upper or lower teeth
• Remaining teeth non-restorable from:
  • Decay
  • Periodontal disease
  • Trauma
  • Other pathology

Ill-Fitting Current Dentures

• Loose, uncomfortable lower or upper dentures
• Constant slippage eating, smiling, talking
• Need for regular adjustements or adhesives
• Changing facial shape from bone loss

Healthy Gums and Adequate Bone

• No serious periodontal disease
• Good prognosis for healing after extractions
• Adequate bone volume and density confirmed via CBCT scan

During an initial visit, the implant dentist performs exams checking for:

Jawbone Density

• Use 3D Intraoral Scanner
• Assess bone structure

Gum Tissue Health

• Evaluate peri-implant tissue
• No untreated infections

CBCT Scan

• Visualize jaw anatomy
• Plan implant positioning

Diagnostic Measure	What It Checks For
Clinical Exam	Loose teeth, decay, gum disease
X-Rays	Bone levels, pathology
Gum Probing	Pocket depth, attachment
CBCT Scan	Bone density and height

Candidates receive clearance after confirming:

• Manageable health conditions
• Adequate bone for implants
• Lack of anything hindering healing

Unhealthy tissues or inadequate bone indicates need for pre-treatment bone grafting. This augments atrophic ridges to better accommodate implant integration.

The Fixed Full Arch Restoration Process Step-by-Step

Receiving fixed full arch restorations to restore failing or absent dentition is a detailed process culminating in a completely renewed smile. The main steps include:

Initial Specialist Consultation

The first visit is a comprehensive exam and consultation to determine candidacy. The surgeon reviews health history, performs clinical tests, takes impressions and orders CBCT scans if necessary.

Together a treatment plan is created either for immediate full arch extractions and implants, or precursor procedures to augment bone first before implants.

CBCT Scan and 3D Model Printing

CBCT dental scans capture detailed volumetric images identifying vital anatomy and bone morphology. This guides exact positioning of implants and prosthetic design.

Digital 3D printing then creates replica plaster models of patient dentition. These help select optimum tooth molds and customize the restoration.

Implant Surgery

On surgery day, the patient receives anesthesia choices ranging from:

• Local Anesthesia
• Sedation
• General Anesthesia

The surgeon then extracts remaining failing teeth. Precision drills delicately prepare osteotomies at proper angulations and depths based on the CBCT guided plan. Titanium implants screw into place flush with bone.

Temporary abutments may connect a provisional same-day prosthesis. More often the gums get sutured closed for a 3-6 month integration period.

Osseointegration Period

Implants fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration - where bone cells migrate directly up to the implant surface. This forms a resilient connection able to support long term function.

Most patients heal uneventfully from extractions and implant surgery within 7-10 days. Gentle diet and lifestyle aid the maturation phase.

Attaching the Full Arch Prosthesis

After integration finishes, the dentist exposes the implants, attaches permanent abutments and takes final impressions. The ideal tooth shade/shape gets chosen for laboratory fabrication.

At the delivery visit, the full arch prosthesis gets inserted and secured via retention screws to the implants. Minor adjustments finalize the precise fit.

Follow-up Visits

The dentist schedules follow-up visits to ensure proper healing around the implant restorations. Often a second integration period follows for the bone to stabilize around the new biting loads.

Successive appointments allow for maintenance and any needed adjustments to ensure optimal lasting success.

With this phased approach, patients with failing dentition transform their quality of life with fixed implant supported full arch restorations.

Costs and Insurance Coverage in Hallandale

Patients often first ask - how much do full arch fixed implant restorations cost? With advanced prosthodontic procedures, costs vary based on:

• Number of implants
• Materials chosen
• Degree of customization

Yet Hallandale patients can expect to budget:

$25,000 - $35,000 Out-of-Pocket

This encompasses the entire treatment process - extractions, temporary dentures, implant surgery, laboratory fees and final prosthesis.

Cost Breakdown

Procedure	Typical Fee Range
Initial Specialist Exam/Xrays	$100 - $500
Extractions	$150 - $250 per tooth
Temporary denture	$1000 - $2500
CBCT Scan	$250 - $700
Implant Surgery	$2000 - $4000 per implant
Lab Fees	$5000 - $7500
Final Prosthesis	$7000 - $10,000
Total Cost	$25,000 - $35,000

*Estimates only. Actual fees determined after clinical evaluation and treatment planning.

Does Insurance Cover It?

Policies differ in dental implant coverage. Traditional plans only pay a basic yearly amount towards implant crowns. PPO dentals may allot 50%-60% after deductible.

• Hallandale Dental Excellence helps patients maximize benefits and navigate insurance intricacies.

For uninsured residents, excellent financing options bring these transformative treatments within reach through low monthly payments.

Payment Plan Options

Rebuilding smile form and function through full arch restorations critically impacts quality living. We help by offering payment methods including:

Credit Cards - Many allow interest-free plans up to 24 months.

Medical Credit Lines - Low fixed rates and extended terms up to 60 months.

Other Plans - Cash discounts, annual payment divisions, personal loans/HELOCs.

With flexible financing, there are lots of ways to afford advanced implant dentistry in Hallandale to give patients back their happy vibrant life.

FAQs

Hallandale patients considering full arch replacements often have common questions needing answers. We address some key concerns below:

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most full arch cases utilize 4-6 dental implants on the upper or lower jaw. More implants provide optimal support and resistance to transmitted chewing stresses.

The Hallandale dentist determines the exact number based on:

Available Bone - Density, volume and angulation guides implant positioning.

Immediate Versus Delayed Loading - Delayed fitting of final teeth (after 3-6 month integration stage) allows for fewer implants initially.

Opposing Arch Condition - If the opposite arch still has some teeth, then more implants help handle greater loads.

CBCT computer guided planning calculates the ideal quantity and places them virtually during simulation. This all gets confirmed during the actual procedure.

How Long Does The Full Mouth Restoration Process Take?

From consultation to final prosthetic delivery, total treatment time takes 5-8 months typically.

The key benefit of a fixed restoration is ability to stay functional through the entire process with well-fitting temporary dentures, if extracted the same day.

Main Stages	Time Period
Extractions + Implant Placement	Single Appointment
Immediate Temp Restoration	Day of Surgery
Osseointegration Period	3-6 months
Final Restoration Insertion	1 month prosthesis fabrication

Some preliminary bone grafting or treatment may add time before implants. But patients enjoy renewed smile form and enhanced confidence in quicker time than expected.

How Painful is the Surgery? What About Recovery?

Patients report manageable discomfort from:

• Anesthesia injections
• Extraction sensations
• Drilling osteotomies

But oral surgeons use profound local numbing. Sedation options also relax the procedure. Prescription medication manages any soreness after.

The recovery timeline is:

• Day 1-3 - Swelling, bruising tender
• Day 4-7 - Slight swelling, minimal pain
• Day 10-14 - Resolve swelling, discomfort

Most patients resume light activity in just 2-3 days. Moderate exercise in a week or so.

How Do I Take Care of My Full Arch Restoration?

Caring for the prosthesis involves:

Brushing/Flossing Around The Implants - Keeps dangerous bacteria and tartar from accumulating in sulci. Prevents inflamed, infected gums and peri-implantitis.

Avoiding Hard/Chewy Foods - Following osseointegration during the first year allows mature bone to support biting function without microfractures.

Annual Checkups - Ensures components integrate well. Checks for occlusal adjustments needed. Assesses gum/bone health and implant integrity.

Proper oral hygiene and avoiding extreme overload lets fixed implant-supported teeth serve beyond initial expectations - 10-15 years or longer.

How Much Does A Full Arch Fixed Restoration Cost?

As described above in section 7, Hallandale patients pay approximately $25,000 to $35,000 out-of-pocket on average. Those with insurance still spend $15,000 to $20,000 for their portion after policy contribution.

This is due to lab costs, surgical expenses and materials used in the advanced procedures. But financing assistance through the dental office helps make this life-changing care attainable.

Payment options like interest-free credit cards, low rate medical credit lines, personal loans and such all provide affordable monthly payments.

Transforming failing or unsightly smiles brings joy that just bolsters patients quality of living.

About Our Dental Practice: Your Hallandale's Best Cosmetic Dentistry for Fixed Full Arch