In many cases, for patients who are missing most or all of their teeth, full-mouth dental implants may be the best tooth replacement option. This treatment is also referred to as All-on-4 and involves the placement of 4 to 6 implants into the jawbone to replace the tooth roots so that a permanent denture or fixed bridge can be attached.
This is a major treatment that can be quite expensive. However, the team at Esteem Dental Implants believes that the advantages far outweigh the costs.
How Much Do Full-Mouth Dental Implants Cost?
On average, full-mouth dental implants cost $12,000 to $25,000 per arch. This is the base price, without considering additional procedures such as sinus lifting, bone grafting, extractions, and more. Additionally, patients who have dental anxiety may require IV sedation, which will also increase the final cost of the procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
Some dental insurance plans will cover a portion of full-mouth dental implants. We will work with your insurance provider to determine your coverage.
Advantages of Full-Mouth Dental Implants
While it is true that full-mouth dental implants is a major investment, it comes with a variety of advantages, including the following:
Reduces risk of bone loss
As you lose your teeth, your jawbone is no longer being used, so your body resorbs it- but implants are inserted into the jawbone, replacing tooth roots. This stimulates the jawbone and keeps it healthy, preserving the integrity of the bone and reducing your risk of bone loss.
Improves facial appearance
When you do not replace missing teeth, your jawbone begins to resorb, and your face begins to sag, appearing wrinkled and collapsed. This makes you look older than you are. However, full-mouth dental implants stimulate the jawbone, keeping it dense and healthy and giving your face a fuller appearance, especially in the lips and cheeks.
Improves speech
When you are missing teeth or you replace them with ill-fitting dentures, you begin to have difficulty pronouncing certain words or making certain sounds. You may whistle when you talk or develop a lisp. However, the quality of your speech significantly improves when you replace missing teeth with full-mouth dental implants.
Improved chewing efficiency
When you are missing teeth, chewing becomes difficult- especially when eating tough foods like meat. However, replacing your missing teeth with full-mouth dental implants makes it a lot easier to chew. In fact, full-mouth dental implants often have a harder bite force than natural teeth due to the materials they are made of and the distribution of the force among the implants.
Comfortable and Convenient
Full-mouth dental implants are permanent. Therefore, you care for them just like you would your natural teeth. You don’t have to worry about taking them out to clean them and you don’t have to worry about using messy adhesives to keep them from slipping around in your mouth when you are eating or talking.
Durable
Since full-mouth dental implants are a permanent solution, you can expect it to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
Increased confidence and self-esteem
In many cases, patients who are missing most or all of their teeth find themselves avoiding social situations because they are embarrassed. However, replacing missing teeth with full-mouth dental implants will have a positive effect on your social life because they look more natural than other options, such as traditional dentures.
Who Qualifies for Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
At Esteem Dental Implants, we require that patients meet certain criteria to qualify for full-mouth dental implants, including:
Healthy Gums
The implants serve as a replacement for tooth roots and are the foundation for the abutments and the prosthetic teeth. Therefore, the implant is placed in the gum and typically in the jawbone- except in the case of mini dental implants, which are placed above the jawbone. The gums and jawbone will then heal around the implant, anchoring it in place.
Since this is a surgical procedure, patients must have healthy gums to allow for a quicker recovery and infection prevention.
Does this mean that patients with gum disease are automatically disqualified? Not necessarily, but you will need to get that under control first.
Adequate Jawbone
Patients who have missing teeth are at an increased risk of jawbone degradation- which can result in complete jawbone loss over time. Therefore, it’s best to explore tooth replacement options, such as full-mouth dental implants, as soon as possible so that you will have adequate jawbone density to support the implants.
This is why patients with osteoporosis may benefit from dental implants. Research has shown that implants may trigger new bone growth. Additionally, studies have shown that dental implants have a high success rate in patients with osteoporosis. The main requirement is that the patient have adequate jawbone to support the implant.
Willing to Invest the Time
One of the biggest drawbacks to dental implant-supported options, such as full-mouth dental implants, is the amount of time it will take. Healing from a single dental implant procedure takes 2 to 3 months for the lower jaw and 3 to 6 months for the upper jaw.
Since you are considering full-mouth dental implants, you can expect treatment time to take longer. This serves to emphasize the importance of having healthy gums so that you’ll heal faster.
Therefore, it is important that you are willing to invest the time and be patient throughout the process.
Willing to Make Important Lifestyle Changes
Gum disease is more common and typically more severe in people who smoke. In addition, smoking increases your risk of bone loss, mouth ulcers, and receding gums.
Also, alcohol seems to kill the “good” bacteria in your mouth and increases the risk of dental and periodontal disease.
Therefore, if you are interested in pursuing full-mouth dental implants as a tooth replacement solution, you will want to do your best to quit smoking. Drinking alcohol is acceptable in moderation- but you must take care that you don’t do it excessively.
Are You Interested in Learning More about Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
As you can see, while full-mouth dental implants can be costly, the benefits far outweigh the cost. At the end of treatment, you will have a confident, beautiful smile that you can be proud of.
If you are interested in learning more about full-mouth dental implants as a solution for your tooth loss, schedule your consultation with the team at Esteem Dental Implants. We have a nationwide network of highly trained and experienced implantologists who have been certified in our state-of-the-art procedure. We look forward to working with you!