Looking to get a fresh start with a brand new set of teeth that never comes out? At Oak Mountain, we offer full arch fixed implant treatment in Shelby County (compare with the All-on-4® treatment concept*) to fully restore your smile, usually in a single day.
A fixed implant arch is the very best treatment to replace a full set of damaged or missing teeth. With this procedure, Dr. Kwolek will remove any remaining teeth at once, place dental implants around the jaw, and give you a new, non-removable smile, often in the same day.
Your new set of teeth does not come in or out, and you will care for them with gentle brushing and gum hygiene just like natural teeth.
For a few months, you will be put on a semi-soft diet. We usually say “anything you can cut with a plastic knife”. However, once you are fully healed, you’ll be able to eat anything you like, from apples to steak, with complete confidence. Patients often say they forget they even have implants because they feel so natural.
*All-on-4 is a trademark of the Nobel Biocare group.
Studies show that with proper health and hygiene habits, dental implants have a very low failure rate, with about 97% still going strong a decade after placement. While this is extremely high, there are many things that the patient can do to maximize their success! Keeping blood sugar low, avoiding nicotine use, and keeping vitamin D levels high are all major factors, and they are good for your whole body, as well! For more information, see: Home Care (Implants)
For “full arch” treatments, particularly involving many extractions, some swelling and modest discomfort can be expected, with most of it gone after 5-7 days. The implant and gum healing that occurs afterwards is normally painless. We are happy to write a doctor’s note for work or school, but with Dr. K’s careful surgical technique and our thorough after-care, most patients are feeling great in no time!
Not everyone is a good candidate, depending on health history and other factors. Besides the health issues mentioned above, some patients have very little bone remaining and may require extra steps or a different type of treatment. Finally, any dental treatment can fail if the patient is unable to keep everything clean. But no matter what your situation, our free and judgment-free consults are a great way to see how we can help!
For full-arch implants, the normal plan is to leave on the day of surgery with a full set of implant-supported teeth. Sometimes, patients with softer bone may have to wear a denture instead for 3-4 months before we can “load” the implants. Either way, we ensure that all of our patients leave with a beautiful smile.
Dr. Kwolek has extensive experience in performing this procedure for patients both fully awake and highly sedated. Fully “asleep” treatment (general anesthesia) is normally performed at a hospital to ensure full patient safety. Surgery under general anesthesia involves an anesthesiologist controlling a patient’s heart and lungs, which has its own risks and needs to be carefully discussed with a full medical team. At Oak Mountain, we offer pills and gas treatments which help keep the patient in a safe, relaxed state all throughout the procedure. Ultimately, the best protection for the patient is expert numbing and expert surgery. That is what you can expect with us.
We’re happy to help you figure out whether this treatment is right for you. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation!
The Oak Mountain Denture and Implant Center proudly serves the people of Alabama, including Shelby County, Hoover, and greater Birmingham.
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