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All Teeth Missing

Patient Story

The retired executive was on the golf course with his friends.  As he swung down to hit his ball out of the sand trap his lower denture flew out of his mouth.  Annoyed and embarrassed, he picked up the sandy denture and put it into his pocket.  After excusing himself from the game he went home and told his wife the story. Sensing his humiliation she made an immediate call to Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry. Our doctors had placed a dental implant for her a few years earlier and she was sure that he could assist her husband with stabilizing his denture and decreasing his self-consciousness about it. A few weeks later our doctors placed dental implants. A few months later following the TeethToday® implants, his dentist fabricated a new final bridge that connected to his implants. No longer a dental cripple, from that day on he would never again have to take his lower teeth in and out of his mouth.

If you’re missing all of your teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw, implant-supported bridges or overdentures such as TeethToday® can offer many benefits over traditional dentures. You have the options of a permanent full bridge or smaller bridges that are attached to several dental implants, or a prosthesis that is securely attached to two or more dental implants but can be removed for easy cleaning and maintenance. Unlike traditional methods, implant-supported dentures do not require adhesives.

Benefits of a fixed bridge on implants

When all teeth are missing or in such condition that they need to be replaced, a fixed bridge anchored to dental implants such as TeethToday® is the an excellent permanent solution

Before dental implants, there were no fixed solutions available for people who lost all their teeth. Today, it is possible to replace a full jaw with dental implants and a fixed bridge that results in a permanent, stable and highly esthetic solution.

  • Is not taken in and out of your mouth
  • Lets you eat and function like having natural teeth
  • A solid, stable solution that can serve you for life
  • Preserves your facial appearance and prevents bone loss
  • Eliminate the discomfort and insecurity often associated with loose, ill fitting dentures.

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Click the photo above to see more before & after photos

 

Course of Treatment

Installing an Implant-Supported Fixed Bridge– Step-By-Step. The course of treatment described here is one of several options available. Consult Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry to find out what the best solution is for you, given your specific condition.

1: Before the procedure
Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry and your dentist determines what needs to be done and prepares both them and you for the coming treatment procedure.

2: Installing the implants
The first step is installing dental implants to replace the lost tooth roots. In this case, five implants are used. In some cases, temporary teeth can be attached that enable you to eat and function like normal while waiting for the permanent bridge(s) to be installed.

3: Attaching the bridge
A few months later, once the implants have bonded to the bone, your dentist will take impressions of the locations of the implants. He will work with a dental laboratory to fabricate your final bridge(s). The final bridge(s) is/are securely installed on top of the implants.

4: End result
Your new teeth should be comfortable, secure, and with similar chewing capacity to your natural teeth. People who have had traditional dentures before getting a fixed bridge often describe this as life-changing.

Alternatives to a Fixed Bridge

Implant Retained Overdenture with Attachments

An alternative to a fixed bridge is a removable full denture, which is anchored on implants that have attachments screwed into them. This is an economical method for increasing the stability and retention of a denture. Because the denture still rests on the soft tissues and bone, this option does not prevent bone loss under the denture. Chewing strength is greater than with a full denture without implants but is significantly less than with a fixed bridge or a bar-retained overdenture. This option is more predictable in the lower jaw than the upper. Please consult with Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry if you are interested in an implant-retained overdenture with attachments.

Removable, Implant Bar Retained Overdenture

A removable full denture that is connected to a bar attachment, which in turn is anchored on 2-6 implants. Additional implants allow a larger bar that extends back under the back teeth on the denture. This allows additional support and retention of the denture. Additional support by a larger bar increases the chewing strength and decreases the amount of the denture lying of the gum tissues and bone. The reduced pressure on the gums and bone decreases bone loss under the denture.

This procedure is common in the upper and lower jaws. Additional implants are needed in the upper jaw due to the poorer quality of jawbone. Please consult with Tampa Bay Periodontics and Implant Dentistry if you are interested in an implant bar-retained overdenture.

Removable Full Denture

A denture that is loosely placed on top of the gum to cover the lost teeth. This alternative has no real advantages – except for its low price and easy installation. The disadvantages are many: decreased chewing ability, discomfort in eating, poor esthetics, affected speech, and sore gums from denture movement. Moreover, a full denture placed in the upper jaw severely reduces the sense of taste.

Adrian’s Testimonial – Full Arch Replacement

Aida’s Testimonial – Full Arch Replacement

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