Who is suitable for "full mouth reconstruction"? What is the difference between "All on 4" and traditional dental implants? What are the key factors that affect the lifespan of dentures?
What is full mouth reconstruction? Who needs full mouth reconstruction?
Full mouth reconstruction refers to solving the problem of “extensive” missing teeth, malocclusion or severe wear and tear of the patient’s teeth. The causes are often multiple and complex. For example, serious oral problems such as multiple missing teeth caused by periodontal disease, enamel wear caused by chewing betel nut, etc. In this case, the overall reconstruction treatment adopted by the doctor usually involves changes in the occlusal height and occlusal plane of the teeth. The doctor will make a comprehensive assessment based on the number of missing teeth, disease severity, malocclusion and other issues, and provide personalized treatment methods.
Before performing full-mouth reconstruction surgery, the health status of the patient’s “roots and alveolar bones” will first be assessed. The roots are like the “foundation” of the teeth. If the patient is found to have alveolar bone atrophy, tooth position displacement, or tooth loss for a long time, etc. The infection status must be fully understood through computerized tomography before full mouth reconstruction. Analyze the shape of the alveolar bone and surrounding bones to provide the most favorable osseointegration environment for the artificial tooth root and alveolar bone during subsequent reconstruction surgery.
What are the items of fixed full mouth reconstruction? What is the difference between “All on 4” and traditional dental implants?
Traditional single-jaw full-mouth reconstruction with dental implants generally requires 8-10 implants. The scope of bone replacement increases with the size of the bone defect at the implant site. Not only does it require multiple surgeries, treatments and a long waiting time for denture production, And the cost is relatively high. In addition, during the bone filling stage of traditional full-mouth dental implant reconstruction, temporary dentures need to be adjusted frequently and the bite force is usually insufficient.
Today’s more popular full-mouth reconstruction technique is widely known as “All on 4/6”. As the name suggests, it is a technique in which 4-6 tooth roots are inserted into the alveolar bone, and the entire set of dentures is evenly supported by the mechanical design of the diagonal bridge. It is worth mentioning that the implants of this technology are directly implanted into the own good bones. There is no need to add foreign bone powder, and it also avoids affecting the important nerves in the maxillary sinus cavity and oral cavity. Therefore, it will be modified with a special composite abutment. The angle between the implant and the denture. The position, angle and depth of each implant depend entirely on the judgment of professional doctors.
Compared with traditional full-mouth reconstruction, “All on 4/6” is suitable for patients with multiple or complete missing teeth, and is also suitable for those with severe alveolar bone atrophy; in addition, its implants can provide relatively stable support for dental bridges , so without the need for bone replacement or only a small amount of bone replacement, only one operation can be completed, and the temporary dentures with a bite force almost close to the original can be installed on the same day. If the upper jaw bone is severely atrophied or the upper jaw bone is lost due to an accident, you can discuss with your doctor and use the “zygomatic bone implant” surgery, which can also achieve very good therapeutic effects.
For those who cannot accept invasive treatment, or whose chronic diseases cannot be effectively controlled by doctors and cannot undergo dental implant surgery, they can consider installing removable dentures, which are mostly installed on teeth with relatively stable foundations using metal hooks or buttons. No surgery is required and the cost is relatively cheap. The disadvantage is that the bite force of removable dentures is poor, and long-term use may cause gum recession, and may even cause the original teeth to become loose.
How long do full-mouth reconstructed dentures last? What factors affect the lifespan of dentures?
The goal of full-mouth reconstruction is to allow patients to use denture implants “for life”. However, the material of dentures and the skill of the doctor may affect the longevity of the implants. For example, if the occlusal force of dentures is not distributed properly, denture implants may be easily damaged due to uneven force. Improper implant depth and denture shape may easily lead to improper cleaning and inflammation of the gum soft tissue. If the dentist does not have a good grasp of the patient’s oral condition, it may indeed lead to the occurrence of peri-implantitis, thereby reducing its service life.
Furthermore, there will be price differences between different denture implants due to differences in origin, material, etc. The price difference may be five to dozens of times. For example, plastic steel teeth are cheap, but not as beautiful and durable as all-ceramic crown dentures. In addition, patients also need to avoid bad habits that may cause oral inflammation after surgery, such as smoking, drinking spirits, or chewing betel nuts, which may significantly reduce the lifespan of dentures and affect the bite.
It should be noted that after complete oral reconstruction surgery, you must pay more attention to oral hygiene. If food and dental plaque accumulate around the implant, it may cause gum inflammation, bleeding, and even damage the alveolar bone, shortening the life of the implant. It is recommended that dentures should be cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush, along with cleaning tools such as a dental rinser and dental floss. If you have the habit of grinding your teeth while sleeping, you should follow the doctor’s instructions and wear a bite splint to avoid damage to the implant dentures.
In terms of daily care, it is recommended to return to the clinic regularly to maintain dentures. For example, sandblasting and scaling can help clean the corners that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. Although you can resume your normal diet after surgery, you need to avoid eating too exciting foods or chewing hard foods such as sugar cane, ice, or bones. In general, if you can follow the doctor’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance after surgery, and go back for regular check-ups and evaluate the oral condition, you can ensure that the full-mouth reconstruction implants are stable and long-lasting; generally speaking, they can last for more than decades; they can even be used for a lifetime. .
The latest technology for full mouth reconstruction? Can dental implant surgery and dentures be completed in one day?
In order to avoid the time-consuming process of making dentures, many dental clinics will cooperate with “dental technology laboratories”. It is expected to collect the patient’s oral information within one day, and use the oral scanner and facial three-dimensional scanner to make a custom design unique to the patient. Dental molds are made, and dentures can generally be obtained within 3-4 hours. Thanks to advances in medical technology, patients can make dental molds and install dentures immediately after root implant surgery.
For one-day full-mouth reconstruction “All on 4”, the doctor will first conduct preoperative assessment and consultation, conduct a full-mouth examination and take 3D tomography to analyze the gum condition, and discuss the full-mouth reconstruction treatment plan with the patient; In the second step, about 4-6 artificial tooth roots are implanted in the morning. During this period, “sleep therapy” can be used to put the patient into a light sleep state to ensure a more comfortable operation.
In addition, patients who are afraid of dental implants can also pay attention to whether the hospital adopts the “4D dynamic navigation dental implant system”, which can help improve the accuracy of dental implant placement, reduce bone damage, and make treatment more secure. The third step is to obtain dental molds after surgery and make full-mouth retained dentures. After wearing the dentures at night, practice chewing and biting according to the doctor’s instructions, and learn how to clean the dentures correctly.
“All on 4” implants for full-mouth reconstruction have been developed for nearly 30 years, and the technology and materials have become mature. In recent years, 3D printing technology, CAD/CAM technology, dynamic navigation dental implants and other technologies have been introduced; the denture production time has been greatly shortened, Dental implant placement and results are also more precise than in the past. In addition, the prices, materials, and structural designs of artificial implants of various brands are different. Generally speaking, the cost of reconstructing a tooth in one jaw ranges from about 500,000 to 1 million. However, dental implants and all-ceramics used by major manufacturers in Switzerland, Sweden, or Europe and the United States Crown dentures, such as Nobel Biocare or Straumann, are expensive but relatively durable. Patients can choose the implant brand that best suits them after discussing with a professional and trustworthy dental implantologist.
Is there a big price gap for full mouth reconstruction? How to choose a hospital for total mouth reconstruction?
The effectiveness of full-mouth reconstruction treatment involves a wide range of factors, and patients need to make a comprehensive and prudent evaluation when choosing a hospital. In particular, the education and experience of the attending physician should be given priority, because the experience value of performing full-mouth reconstruction surgery is the most important factor affecting the treatment. In addition, before surgery, you can ask about the denture manufacturing process used by the hospital. It is recommended to choose a dental hospital that has strict quality control from consultation and explanation, health education and maintenance, to denture production. In addition to ensuring the quality of dentures, subsequent maintenance is also more secure.
At present, there is a huge gap in the price of full-mouth reconstruction in the market. Some only provide “template treatment” plans, which cannot meet the needs of individual patients in terms of bone and soft tissue coordination, bite force distribution, and facial aesthetics. In fact, some patients can achieve their bite adjustment goals through partial dental implants and correction, and it is not necessarily necessary to extract all the teeth. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a hospital that can provide multiple treatment options based on individual needs and in line with treatment budget and schedule considerations. More importantly, oral care after full-mouth reconstruction will affect the longevity of the implant. You can observe whether the hospital has a complete health education team to provide health education consultation to maintain good postoperative care.
Extended reading: Will you risk periodontal disease if you use your toothbrush for too long? Dentists reveal the correct way to brush your teeth without hurting your gums!
