Full Mouth Dental Implants

Full Mouth Dental Implants Explained

Also known as ‘full arch dental implants’, ‘All on 4’ or ‘All on 6’, full mouth dental implants are a full bridge of permanent replacement teeth.

A dental implant is a titanium “root” used to support a porcelain tooth replica or a group of teeth. A typical implant consists of a fixture made of commercially pure titanium, which after three months fuses to your jaw bone, much like a replacement hip or knee would. A porcelain tooth (or teeth) is then attached to the implant or denture, locking it into place.

This represents a permanent and fixed solution to replace your upper/lower teeth. A full arch fixed implant bridge is used to lock in a full set of teeth, via dental implants.

Thanks to this revolutionary technique, Dr Helen is able to safely and efficiently replace your upper or lower natural teeth overnight utilising dental implants made from grade 4 or grade 5 titanium. The implants are inserted into the jawbone, where they fuse with the human bone. These implants act as anchors for a dental bridge of replacement teeth. Unlike single dental implants that replace teeth one by one, this process provides the same benefits as multiple single dental implants, but with a shorter treatment process and reduced recovery times. In most cases, 4 to 6 implants are all that is required to support a complete row of top or bottom teeth.

The technique requires fixing a set of teeth on 4 – 6 implants (per jaw). The rear two implants are placed at a 45-degree angle, providing immediate stability to your new teeth. Also regarded as a more cost effective, less time consuming, and substantially more comfortable option for you. It is particularly suitable for denture wearers and if you’re close to losing your teeth.

BEFORE & AFTERS

MELBOURNE’S LEADING COSMETIC DENTAL CENTRE

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It is worth considering full mouth implants for full teeth replacement, if:

You’ve lost most or all of your original top or bottom teeth.
You have multiple damaged, rotten or missing teeth.
You’re experiencing bone and gum loss
You experience headaches, clicking, and pain resulting from your jaw.
You’re sick of wearing dentures, or experience difficulty in mouth mobility.
You have difficulty eating, in particular foods that require significant chewing.
Your teeth are not lining up and seem to be moving around
Your dentures can’t be adjusted to fit your mouth
Missing teeth are affecting how you sound when you talk.
Your facial appearance doesn’t seem the same as it once did.

Complete Dental implants provide many advantages over dentures

Dental implants are fixed into your jaw-bone. Unlike dentures, they do not move around or break
They look and feel like natural teeth, restoring a beautiful smile and your ability to chew.
They provide a long-lasting, permanent solution to missing teeth.
Dental implants help support adjacent natural teeth from moving, preventing alignment problems.
They also support and preserve bone in your mouth, unlike dentures, which can result in bone loss.

We understand the pain and frustration that you may be experiencing from having broken or missing teeth. Dr Helen is committed to repairing your natural teeth, but this is not always an option. So whether you’ve lost or damaged a tooth due to decay, injury, gum disease, or another factor, the best option for you may be a single implant or multiple dental implants.

Are you ready to see your beautiful smile once again? Dr Helen can help to restore your smile with complete teeth replacement.

The Benefits of Full Mouth Dental Implants

The process of dental implantology has advanced greatly in recent years, so much so that the materials and process result in teeth that look almost identical to natural teeth.

You can eat anything you want with dental implants.

Implants are secured in the bone beneath the gum just like your natural teeth, which means they can withstand the force of chewing things that dentures can’t—nuts, crunchy fruits and vegetables, you name it! Chewing hard foods can be painful on dentures because they’re supported by your gum and not the bone, and it can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on remaining teeth that now have to take on all the chewing.

Dental Implants don’t cause ulcers or rubbing

Implant surgery is done under local or general anaesthesia, and once healed, feel like natural teeth. Dentures often rub and pinch, causing painful ulcers that can affect eating, speaking, and everyday life.

Full Dental Implants look natural

Thanks to great advancements in dental implant technology and processes, implants look so natural it is almost impossible to tell that they are not your own teeth.

Advantages of full mouth dental implants over conventional full arch implants include:

Usually only 4 – 6 implants are needed to support all upper or lower teeth
Less invasive with quicker recovery time, reduces need for bone grafting
High success rate, including for patients who may not have been suitable for regular implants
New teeth fixed in as little as 24 hours after surgery
High success rate and more cost-effective than traditional dental implants
Great alternative for long time denture wearers
Suitable for seniors
Improve your smile and facial appearance
Look almost identical to natural teeth
Better oral and gum health

Dental Implants improve your smile and facial appearance

Clearly patients are looking forward to smiling once again with a full set of beautiful and natural-looking teeth, filling in tooth or teeth gaps, or replacing dentures and damaged teeth.

Implants will also mean that Dr Helen will have had the opportunity to customise the size and shape of your new teeth, to align with and fit your jaw, resulting in improved oral hygiene, as well as improvements in jaw and gum health.

Many modern techniques require only four dental implants, each arranged in a 45 degree angle, avoiding the maxillary sinus. This makes the need for a bone grafting or a sinus lift less likely, as well as reducing treatment time and cost. In the past, traditional dental implant treatments could take up to two years.

What is the process?

For you to feel comfortable and confident in proceeding with full mouth dental implants, Dr Helen provides all the information you require and will elaborate on the following steps of the process.

Consultation

During your initial consultation, Dr Helen will examine your current condition and discuss your requirements and options. Together with planning, this is the most valuable part of the process in achieving the outcome you desire

Diagnosis & Planning

Photographs, study models, X-rays, and a CT scan will be used to assess your aesthetic requirements and bone availability. In a series of appointments we will take photographs, make impressions, determine the best implant placement, and prepare your implants for you.

Implant Placement – Day 1

The implants are strategically placed according to prior treatment planning and an impression record is taken for your temporary bridge. This treatment can be completed while you’re asleep. If you decide on sleep dentistry, a qualified anaesthetist will administer general anaesthesia.

Teeth Trial – Day 2

During this appointment Dr Helen will trial your new teeth to ensure their shade and shape are pleasing.

Your New Teeth – Day 3

For most people, new teeth are fastened to implants on the third day.

Final Fit – 5 months

The mouth heals surprisingly quickly, provided you follow our advice and take your medications. Dr Helen will see you for several follow-ups after the initial procedure, until the final bridge is made in 5 months’ time.

Consultation

Diagnosis & Planning

Implant Placement – Day 1

Teeth Trial – Day 2

During this appointment Dr Helen will trial your new teeth to ensure their shade and shape are pleasing.

Your New Teeth – Day 3

For most people, new teeth are fastened to implants on the third day.

Final Fit – 5 months

How Much Does it Cost?

One implant tooth replacement

$5000 - $5500 (EACH)

Two or more teeth replacement

$4500 - $5500 (EACH)

All on X (Upper or Lower)

$25000 - $30000

How long will it take to replace my teeth?

A common question we get asked by our patients trying to decide the best timeframe to plan their implant surgery is how long they can expect to be off work after implant surgery. It’s a great question, and most patients are surprised to hear that in some cases, they can expect to go back to work the very next day!

The recovery time varies depending on what type of implant surgery is being done and how extensive it is. For individual dental implants or bone grafting surgery, the surgery is minimally invasive and patients can return to work the next day with little to no discomfort.

For bigger procedures, such as complete teeth replacement or other implant procedures where we replace all teeth with implants and fixed bridges, we generally recommend that a patient takes about a week off of work. There can be bruising and swelling after the surgery, as well as some minor recovery expected after being under general anaesthesia if required.

The good news is that we prescribe medications before the surgery that help alleviate any pain, swelling and discomfort during the healing time, making the recovery time as easy as possible on our patients.

Please click on the FAQ links below to view.

If your question is not answered below you can contact Dr Helen directly with your question by filling out our enquiry form here.

Are all dental implants successful?

Implants have a very high chance of success in a healthy patient who takes care of their general and dental health. There are, however, some factors that can compromise the successful placing of an implant. These include medical disease, excessive smoking or alcohol consumption and poor diet or dental hygiene.

Will Implants Last a Lifetime?

With good care, there is a very high chance an implant will last a lifetime.

Is Age a Deterrent?

Health is the determining factor, not age. In fact implants are most often needed later in life after losing some teeth.

Is it Expensive?

Implant procedures vary in complexity and extent. Depending on the patient’s dental and medical circumstances, implant procedures can involve a significant financial outlay. I have a high success rate and many very satisfied patients.

Will My Health Fund Pay?

This will depend on the level of your cover. We are happy to make enquiries on your behalf with your individual health fund.

Will there be Discomfort?

As with any surgery, there can be some degree of pain or discomfort. However, modern anaesthetics virtually eliminate all pain during and after the procedure.

How much time will it take?

This depends on your individual circumstances and the extent of work involved. There will usually be a series of procedures and follow-up visits over a period of some months.

How long will I be off work?

Generally patients can resume work the day after the procedure. In some cases you may experience some swelling, discomfort, or minor bruising.

How do you select a dentist for your implant treatment?

In recent years, to meet market demands and reduce fees, many dentists have turned to lower quality, often overseas made implants. As a result, we are seeing higher failure rates, poorly fitting crowns and less aesthetically pleasing results.

When you shop around for best prices, you will find a dramatic variation in fees between dentists. Most people aren’t aware of how low prices are achieved. Several factors need to be considered in making your choice.

What is an implant?

A dental implant is a titanium “root” used to support a porcelain tooth replica or a group of teeth. A typical implant consists of a fixture made of commercially pure titanium, which after three months fuses to your jaw bone, much like a replacement hip or knee would. A porcelain tooth or teeth is then attached to the implant or denture, locking it into place.

Implant success and technical considerations

Generally a well-planned and expertly executed implant procedure has success rates in the order of 98% and most people could expect a dental implant to last for life. Implants rely on their support from adequate bone thickness and quality. However, a poorly placed or angulated implant or an implant squeezed into an area of insufficient bone, to save you money, has high risk of failure. Implants don’t fail quickly. They can take 10 years to deteriorate. Unfortunately as they fail slowly and painlessly they can cause bone dissolution at the same time. At the time of failure, there is usually insufficient bone to replace it and reparative procedures will cost you thousands, negating any savings you would’ve made in the first place. When people need a hip replacement or a kidney operation, they usually look for a good surgeon. It is important to understand that implants are not a commodity, but a delicate surgical procedure that needs to be performed by a highly qualified surgeon for long term success.

Despite popular belief, implant brand rarely determines the success of the procedure. Most modern, well respected brands manufacture high quality implants. Success is in the hands of the operator.

Implant supported crown

The tooth replica or the crown also needs to satisfy a number of requirements. It needs to be proportionate to the length and size of your implant as to not overload it and be made of high quality pure materials to prevent fractures and corrosion. It also must look like a natural tooth and fit snugly between adjacent teeth so there are no hard-to-reach areas where food can become trapped and cause infection. It must also satisfy comfort and functionality requirements.

All of this might sound quite straightforward, but in fact a crown is a well-crafted piece of dental engineering requiring great technical skill and talent on the part of both dentist and the dental technician. Great care, skill, time and honesty will determine whether you end up with a superior long-term result or a mediocre crown. The laboratory technician needs to be up-to-date with modern methods of manufacture, and comfortable working with the latest materials. These technicians are hard to come by even in Australia and their work is not cheap.

Practicality

When considering implant treatment, most patients are unaware that they will most likely be referred by their dentist to one or more specialists at different stages of their treatment. This can be time consuming, expensive and stressful. For long-term success, it’s important that the dentist you select to do your implants understands, and is qualified to handle all aspects of implant treatment.

Even more alarming is the trend of going overseas to have dental treatment done. We receive several phone calls a week from people with overseas-made disasters. Once again you will reap immediate savings but after numerous trips, airfares, the cost will often come close to what you’d expect to pay in Australia. There are many skilled surgeons around the world. However, if you have any complications such as infection, crown loosening or failure, there is often no one equipped to deal with these conditions in Australia as systems used overseas are often different. Also, financially it is entirely your responsibility.

Quality

Most people are unaware that some dentist send their work directly to China; cutting out the middle man. Others use local Australian laboratories that outsource work to China. This creates the impression that the work is Australian made when it’s not.

Metals and porcelain used for veneers and crowns vary greatly in quality. This information is not freely available to the public, but to somebody who is having the procedure done, this can mean the difference is between success and failure. In addition, lead contamination has been implicated in overseas made crowns. As with most things, quality will be reflected in price.

I always encourage people to do their own research. However, no matter how thorough your research is, results are entirely in the hands of the professionals you choose.

Summary

When selecting a dentist to do your implants, be cautious and don’t let the lowest price influence you. Please consider all variables when evaluating value for money, such as the integrity and skill of the practitioner and technician, in addition to the quality of materials. Long term success should always drive your decision.

For stringent quality control, our work is crafted by a leading Australian laboratory from superior materials to ensure that what goes into your mouth is of the highest standard.”

If you have any further questions or concerns, please call our office on 9510 5597. With extensive training and experience in implant procedures, we will assist you in making your decision.

Cost of complete teeth replacement implants

Cost is a big consideration and the most commonly asked question from people who are considering this treatment. Using traditional methods of using 5 to 8 implants, an upper or lower arch would cost $30,000 – $50,000.

With the advent of the All on 4 procedure, the cost of rehabilitating full arch of teeth has come down. This is because there is often no need for bone grafting and allows the dentist to use only 4 implants.

In Australia, All on 4 treatment can range anywhere from $18,000 to $30,000

The wide range of fees are due to the following reasons:

Type of implants used for the procedure
Need for bone grafts to regenerate lost bone
Quality and the quantity of bone available in your mouth
Diagnostic tests before the surgery
Quality of the final restoration (teeth)
Customisation required
Experience/skill of your dentist/surgeon
Having surgery performed under general or local anaesthetic

We are a small practice and therefore we are able to focus on your individual needs, providing utmost care. Our fees reflect the highest quality of outcome we deliver. Whilst still priced at the lower end, we offer value for your money by incorporating in our fees many options often offered as additions in other clinics. If you need both upper and lower arches done at the same time, it takes less time to than if they were done individually, offering savings for both arch treatment.

In some cases, you may be able to have some cost alleviated by your dental insurance. However, most insurance companies only offer small rebates.

Remember that nothing in life worth having comes free or cheap, so be careful with big discounts or cheap overseas “solutions”. Be certain that the dentist you choose is experienced, offers ongoing care after initial treatment completion and uses trusted implant providers so that if you require a part replacement years later, components are freely available.

Though by no means this is a cheap treatment, All on 4 is an investment that will positively influence your appearance and your overall health.

We are happy to answer any questions you have specific to your situation. Please feel free to give us a call on (03) 9510 5597.

Have you lost all hope in your teeth? Tired of Dentures? Sick of the pain?