What Is the Implant Denture Procedure Like?
Like other implant-supported restorations,
such as implant crowns and bridges, the implant denture procedure consists of three phases. Because our practice houses a variety of specialties, our team can coordinate and complete each step of your implant dental procedure all under one roof.
Phase 1-Preoperative prep
On the first visit, the patient will meet their doctors. A detailed medical/dental history will be taken, along with radiographs and a Panorex x-ray. On occasion, the doctor will ask for a dental Cat-scan which is a 3D representation of the patient’s mouth. All of these machines are digital, state of the art dental, extremely low radiation exposure devices. They portray a very precise portrait of the patient’s jaw including where nerves and arteries may lie, height and width of the bone, and general health.
Following that our doctors will listen to you to determine what your hopes, aspirations, expectations, and phobias are concerning your treatment. The doctors will then offer different options as to the best way to treat your condition.
They will look at your physiology, anatomy, present dental condition, age, and finances. They will fine-tune a precise treatment plan that will leave you well satisfied in every aspect of your dental experience at 172 NYC Dental.
At the end of this visit, our treatment coordinator will go over insurance coverage, out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, and third-party payment plans. This person will be your dental concierge, who will help guide you through the whole process of restoring your smile. Once the patient agrees to treatment a second visit will be booked ASAP. At this visit the patient will have impressions, an occlusal record (bite), shade, and shape of teeth taken.
The transitional appliance is now made in our own laboratory so that at the next stage (surgical) the patient will leave our office with a full complement of teeth.
Phase 2— Surgical Treatment
The next phase of the All-on-4 dental implant procedure involves a minimally invasive surgical treatment. Our implant specialist embeds four dental implants into the jawbone, and these implants eventually retain the new permanent denture.
This procedure is done as an outpatient in our comfortable office. It is most often done with local anesthetic (lidocaine) which allows the area to become numb. Music of the patient’s choice is played in the treatment room. If the patient prefers, nitrous oxide or oral medications can be used to round off any rough emotional edges. In the hands of our highly skilled doctor, the actual placement of the implants takes about twenty minutes. The titanium implant is gently screwed into the jaw bone, the gum is then sutured over the implant so that the implant is protected and can easily, uninterruptedly
Osseointegrate with the bone. The sutures are dissolvable. The doctor will ask you to return in two weeks to make sure everything is going well. Occasionally antibiotics and analgesic medication is prescribed to our patients. Peridex (chlorhexidine) rinse is often recommended during the healing process. Most of our patients experience very little discomfort. Tylenol, ibuprofen, and application of cold (frozen peas work well) serve to eliminate most postop aches.
Our surgeon will call you to see how you are following your procedure. Our patients are encouraged to return to work the very next day. Drinking lots of fluids and maintaining a soft diet is also advised. Taking it physically easy for the next two to three days, no gym helps to promote healing.
Phase 3 — Denture Placement
Our prosthetic (cosmetic) dentist completes the third phase of restoration treatment. Implant-retained dentures contain attachments that lock onto the actual dental implants, ensuring a snug and secure fit. We offer two types of implant retained dentures. Our friendly team can discuss these solutions with you to help you make the right choice for your individual needs:
- Bar retained: A thin metal bar that follows the contours of your jaw will be attached to the implants. Clips on the denture will lock the implants and bar together.
- Ball retained: The main difference between ball and bar-retained implants is the mechanism used to attach the denture. In this procedure, a ball-shaped attachment is fastened to the implants, which are then secured onto the denture with a socket-like feature.
Both of these devices restore all the missing or damaged teeth in the arch by use of the denture (much smaller than the traditional removable one). These dentures are snug and afford great function, they do come in and out of the mouth as desired by the patient.
All-on-4 is a porcelain bridge that restores all the teeth in the arch in addition to lost bone and gum tissue, just like the implant-supported denture. The difference lies in that this device is screwed into the implants and is not removable. It becomes part of your natural dentition.
Costs of All-on-4 Dental Implants and Implant Denture Costs
In NYC, the average cost for all-on-4 dental implants or implant dentures is $19,999. However, at 172 NYC Dental, we strive to make this option as affordable as possible, charging only $13,500 to $15,000. We participate with most PPO insurances as well, which can offset the cost. If needed, you can also take advantage of our convenient payment plans.
At 172 NYC Dental, we are very excited about these prosthetic solutions to the edentulous arch. By using these techniques the cost for restoring an edentulous arch is greatly reduced. By placing four implants and restoring fourteen teeth, it becomes much more affordable than placing many more implants for each tooth that is missing. The cost of All-on-4 dental implants is much lower than the traditional one implant / one tooth concept. As experienced cosmetic dentists, we are aware that when one loses all of one’s teeth bone and gum are lost too. The distance between the tip of the nose and the chin collapses. This collapse causes puppet and frown lines, it allows the mouth to spread across the entire face, in other words, it makes us look old. With All-on-4 and implant-supported dentures, this loss of facial volume and contour is easily corrected. The distance between the upper and lower jaws (vertical dimension) is restored, leading to a more youthful, vibrant look. These prostheses do much more than restore teeth, they restore your smile, your face, your dignity, and confidence.
Learn More About All-on-4 Dental Implants at 172 NYC Dental
A gorgeous smile and a healthy mouth are waiting. All it takes is a phone call or online message, and you can meet with our implant specialist to learn if all-on-4 dental implants are right for you. Do not wait — contact us today to learn about our treatment options.
