Full Mouth Dental Implants: Experts Answer Your Top Questions
Navigating the world of dental restoration can be overwhelming, especially with the vast amount of information available online. From navigating forums to understanding complex dental terminology, patients often find themselves with more questions than answers. In the video above, Dr. Caleb Stott and Dr. Tyler Tolbert from Smile Now Dentures and Implants tackle real questions from the internet to provide clarity on full mouth dental implants and what patients should expect during treatment.
Can You Get Implants If You Have No Teeth?
One of the most common questions we encounter is whether a patient is a candidate for implants if they have already lost all their teeth. The short answer is yes. In fact, full mouth dental implants are primarily designed as a tooth replacement solution for this exact scenario.
Years ago, the approach to full mouth rehabilitation was different. Dentists would often attempt to replace every single missing tooth with an individual implant, sometimes placing ten or more implants in a single arch. However, we have learned that this is not the most effective method due to blood flow within the bone tissue.
- Bone Physiology:
Bone is a living tissue that requires healthy blood flow to maintain its density and strength. - Implant Spacing:
Placing implants too close together can compromise this blood supply, similar to how vascular issues affect the extremities in diabetic patients. - Modern Strategy:
Today, we do not replace teeth one-for-one. Instead, we use fewer, strategically placed implants to support a full arch, ensuring better long-term health for the bone.
If you have been wearing dentures for years and have been told you do not have enough bone, you may still be a candidate. While you might lack the bone for single-tooth implants, full mouth dental implants can often utilize the remaining bone architecture to restore your smile effectively.
Understanding Prosthetics: FP1 vs. FP3
When researching full arch replacements, you might encounter technical terms like FP1 and FP3. These classifications, established by Dr. Carl Misch, describe the type of prosthesis you will receive. Understanding the difference is crucial for setting the right aesthetic expectations.
The FP1 Prosthesis
An FP1 prosthesis replaces only the crown, or the white part of the tooth. It is designed to look like natural teeth emerging from your natural gums. This option is typically reserved for patients who have not suffered significant bone or gum loss, such as younger patients or those who recently lost teeth due to decay rather than gum disease. To achieve this, the implants are often placed slightly shallower to maintain the natural gum line.
The FP3 Prosthesis
The FP3 prosthesis is the most common type used in full mouth rehabilitation today. It replaces both the teeth and a portion of the gum tissue using pink porcelain or acrylic. This is necessary for patients who have experienced bone loss due to periodontitis. Without the pink portion, the replacement teeth would appear unnaturally long to bridge the gap to the jawbone. The pink porcelain restores the vertical height of the face and provides a more aesthetic, youthful appearance.
| Feature | FP1 Prosthesis | FP3 Prosthesis |
|---|---|---|
| What it Replaces | Teeth only (white crown) | Teeth and gums (white crown + pink base) |
| Ideal Candidate | Younger patients; minimal bone loss | Patients with periodontitis or bone loss |
| Aesthetic Goal | Natural emergence from gums | Corrects facial height; hides bone loss |
The Problem with Flippers and Delayed Healing
One of the questions we addressed came from a frustrated patient who spent a significant amount of money but was stuck wearing a “flipper” while waiting for implants. This temporary device had broken hooks, required adhesive, and left the patient feeling discouraged. This scenario represents an older, more fragmented approach to dentistry that we strive to avoid.
The traditional method often involved extracting teeth, placing bone grafts, and sending the patient home with a removable flipper for months before even placing the implants. This leaves the patient in a state of discomfort and reduced function for an extended period.
The Smile Now Approach: Immediate Fixed Teeth
At Smile Now, we utilize a modern protocol to prevent this limbo. When we perform full mouth dental implants, we aim to extract the remaining teeth, place the implants, and attach a fixed set of temporary teeth all in the same procedure. By splinting the implants together with a fixed bridge, we create stability similar to a cast on a broken bone.
- Immediate Function:
You leave the office with fixed teeth, avoiding the embarrassment and discomfort of removable flippers. - Better Healing:
Splinting the implants stabilizes them during the osseointegration process. - Predictability:
This streamlined workflow reduces the number of appointments and eliminates the uncertainty of “phased” treatments.
If you are considering restoring your smile, it is important to choose a provider who uses current digital dentistry and immediate-load protocols to ensure your journey is as smooth as possible.
At Smile Now, we are committed to transparent, patient-centered care. We believe that standard of care means providing a solution you can live with comfortably from day one. If you have questions about your specific situation, or if you have been told you are not a candidate elsewhere, we encourage you to seek a second opinion that embraces the latest in implant technology.