1 of 21
Many candidates for full arch treatment have postponed needed and elective procedures due to embarrassment, financial issues, fear or timing. For many patients, one “final straw” reason motivates them to move forward with treatment. Breakage of a front tooth is one of the most common motivating factors.
Pre-operative smile picture.
Lips retracted with removable partial denture in place.
Lips retracted without partial.
Pre-operative panoramic x-ray.
Stage one, fixed temporaries. Using the existing teeth, crown preparations are completed. Originally, we had planned to keep some teeth but after this investigation we decided to remove all teeth and replace the entire arch with implants. Leaving compromised teeth becomes a liability in many cases.
A fixed temporary bridge is fabricated on the teeth. This step is one of the most exciting because it is the first time in years that the patient feels good about their smile. After years of hiding one’s smile, re-learning to smile can take months.
Strategic implants are placed during Stage One. These will heal over a two-month period and be used in Stage Two.
Stage Two: extraction of remaining teeth, placement of additional implants and fabrication of a new fixed temporary.
Frontal view, six implants placed, abutments (metal visible in picture) in place.
Master cast of implants and abutments (frontal view).
Occlusal (mirror) view of implant abutments.
Occlusal view of master cast.
Two implant bridges.
Final fixed bridges, occlusal (mirror) view.
Frontal view, fixed, cemented implant bridges.
Left lateral (mirror) view of left bridge. Note the “normal” contours that mimic natural teeth. These bridges can be easily cleaned.
Right lateral (mirror) view of left bridge. Note the “normal” contours that mimic natural teeth. These bridges can be easily cleaned.
Final result, full face smiling.
Final smile picture.
Final panoramic x-ray. Note: parallel implants, no angled abutments, easily cleaned contours.
