Patient Information

We have gathered the information on your first visit, pre and post-op instructions, and online forms for your convenience.

Full Arch Patient Reminder

Dental implants are medical devices surgically implanted into the jaw to restore a person's ability to chew or their appearance. They provide support for artificial (fake) teeth, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Dental implant systems consist of a dental implant body and dental implant abutment and may also include an abutment fixation screw. The dental implant body is surgically inserted in the jawbone in place of the tooth's root. The dental implant abutment is usually attached to the implant body by the abutment fixation screw and extends through gums into the mouth to support the attached artificial teeth.

Once your implants are placed in the jaw bone with appropriate torque and angulation the multiunit abutment device is screwed in the implant (multiunit abutment is a medical device of polished titanium that has different degrees from 17 to 30 to 45 for conventional implants.)

Full arch dental implant reconstruction is the treatment technique that allows us to recreate whole dental arch prosthesis that is supported by 4 or more implants.

Treatment consists of two stages (usually 4-6 months apart):

First part starts on the day of surgery and has two stages — surgical and prosthetic:

Surgical part that includes anesthesia, extractions of teeth, bone adjustment/grafting/addition/removal, placement of dental implants (conventional or advanced), straight or tilted, placement of multiunit abutments, PIC photogrammetry scan, suturing and full arch record to the multiunit with scanning and creating the arch digital record and bite record. Post op X-ray is performed, patients receives the recommendations and that concludes the surgical part.
Prosthetic part includes digital design and print of temporary teeth for same day or next day insertion. Most of the time it is a half a day procedure per arch. One or two weeks after the surgery patient comes for post-op check. Then regular checks 2-3-4 months depending where patient lives.

After 4-6-8-10 months patients are ready to do final teeth. The surgery part bill is paid in full by the patient at this point.

Second part of the treatment is fully prosthetic — Final teeth delivery

After 4 to 6 months we check for implant integration with the bone and patient should make a choice to make non removable or removable (denture like, snap-on) teeth.

At first appointment would be performed:

Intraoral scanning with 3Shape of his temporary teeth: upper, lower and bite.
Intraoral scanning with 3Shape of upper and lower arches without temporary teeth.
PIC scanning for precise implant positions.
InstaRise 3D face scanning for facial features and lip position.

Collected data would be used for transitional prosthesis design.

At second appointment would be performed:

After the 2-3 weeks from 1 appointment new transitional prosthesis would be ready. The new prototypes are tried in on the try-in appointment and patient can approve them right away or take few weeks to get used to and make some meaningful modifications.

If patient is not satisfied completely with new teeth design, any changes should be discussed with the doctor and send to our laboratory. New transitional teeth would be made for new try-in. Second try-in with patient approval to produce finals. All redesigns after 3rd try are separate service for a fee ranging from $900 to $1800 per arch per print per patient.

Once approved and comfortable lab technicians will start designing the final teeth arches based on the final prototypes. This process usually takes about 3 weeks.

Final teeth are screw retained prosthesis that is connected on top of multiunit abutments. Final teeth are designed by the lab and dental designers.

Final teeth material selection is very individual and based on patient preference, age, biting and teeth grinding habits, esthetics and price the product is chosen.

Usually we discuss with the patient three variations:

PMMA
Zirconia
Crystal Ultra (Nanoceramic)

Most final teeth arches will consist of 2 parts: the Bar and the Shell that goes over the bar. The two are glued together with permanent cement. In some cases the structures are not glued permanently for try in purposes especially with zirconia in case some adjustment and glazing is necessary.

The final shell is considered the final, permanent product but can wear, tear and fracture. In case of the break some shell materials can be repaired and some replaced.

On the final appointment for final teeth delivery the arches are placed and screwed in. If necessary minor occlusal adjustments are made.

We advice to wear night guard especially for bruxism patients.

The care for your mouth should include daily brushing and Water Pik.

We recommend every 6 months or ones a year appointment for hygiene and maintenance.

If your hygiene is great some patients will do only once every two year appointments for hygiene and maintenance.

The product is very good based on clinical, laboratory and market research but just like anything else in medicine and dentistry no guarantee can be issued or applied for medical devices, surgeries, medical and dental treatments as well as body parts replacements.

In our clinic we tell patients that although we don’t guarantee medical and dental services we may elect as a courtesy to our patients to perform some exams, X-rays, prosthesis or implant replacement at some cost or no cost to the patient within one year of DOS.

Basically If the patient is regularly reporting for check exams and its within a year of Date of Service, Galleria Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center may elect to replace the prosthetics or implants at no cost as a courtesy. This is on case by case basis and is up to the sole discretion of doctors after examination.

We are not aware of any dental insurance policies that can insure past dental work, or even current dental work, its up to the patient if they want to look into such a policy, as of now I have not came in acquaintence with such. But possibly that product will be available in future.

Can dental implants fail after a year or two or during life time?

Dental implants can fail during lifetime and in cases of full arch may need to be removed and replaced. The teeth that are attached to the implants may have to be modified, removed, replaced or converted to removable dentures. More surgery can be necessary and as a result additional cost and investment that the patient may face.