No Upper Teeth- Need the Best Implant Procedure for Replacing Teeth. What Is It?

If you are looking for the best, then some type of fixed dental bridges is the best and certainly the most well liked as well. Fixed means that you cannot take it out.  If you have enough bone and gum tissue, it may be possible to use bridges and crowns.  If not, then the Nobel Biocare option of "All on Four" is another great choice.  Please note that all on four is a name.  If you can, it is better to have more than four implants placed.

Either of these procedures can change your life!

Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF

There is no 'best' way to replace missing upper teeth with implants. It depends on your budget, quality of your jaw bone, and overall health (smoking, medical history, etc). Option 1: You can have as little as 4 implants onto which you can "snap on & off" a removable denture. This would be the least expensive option depending on who who see (dentist or specialist). Option 2: You can have what is called a "hybrid" denture that is screwed into 5-6 implants. This is NOT removable. Only your dentist or prosthodontist (specialist in crown and bring) can remove it every couple of years for maintenance purposes. There is an option called ALL ON 4 which is similar to this. But I would NOT recommend this option because it is a form of "under treatment" and if one implant fails (particularly one of the implants on either end of your span of implants) the entire bridge will fail and need to be redone which could cost a fortune. Option 3: Placement of 6-8 implants with a FIXED acrylic or Porcelain bridge. These look amazing and feel amazing. They are PERMANENT and generally not removed by anyone. You need to see your dentist or periodontist every 3 months to keep it clean. 

There are many different type of implant procedures and restorations for the upper jaw available. Some require more work than others.  Some require bone grafting while others may not.  The implant procedures depend on the type of finished restoration you desire.  You can have something removable that attaches to the implants.  This is the least costly.  You can have implant bridges made which requir more implants and labwork.  These are fixed and non removable, they also cost significantly more because of the labwork and number of implants.  The last option would be individual implants and individual crowns for each tooth which is the most costly and requires the most work. You need to see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who works with a qualified restoring dentist to discuss all your options and determine which will work for you

Try to have a consultation with a dental surgeon first and a cosmetic dentist, both can give you a plan and guide through it. Implants are a great option for replacing missing teeth. If you are a good candidate for implants , you will benefit for Implant supported denture. It is not the terrible fit you can get with a floating denture. The advantage about this Denture is that snaps on your implants. the more implants the better retention, also you can do a hybrid denture where everyhting screws together. Both options look amazing, again i encourage you to have a consultation first! A dental implant is a surgical procedure, but there is no need to be intimidated.

Good candidates for dental implants must have a sound dental foundation to support the implants. This includes having healthy gums and sufficient bone structure in which to anchor the replacement “root” for your implant. Some chronic illnesses may also prevent dental implants from being the right choice for replacing missing teeth.

Implant dentistry is the best option for replacing missing teeth in any area of the mouth.
When someone is missing all their teeth in either the upper or lower arch they have several options for restoring their dental health.
The best option is the "All on 4" design.  This consists of 4 dental implant placed in the arch in a specific design that allows for placement of a screw retained denture bridge.  This prosthesis is the most natural and has a "no" palate design. The bridge is only removable by your surgeon or dentist.  This option is the closet thing to have your own teeth back.
Another great option is, placement of 2 or 4 dental implants in the arch that will allow for a "snap" on and off over denture placement.
 

You basically have 3 options to replace your missing teeth

1) Full upper denture, no implants

2) 4 implants  and a denture that is removable by you

3)  4 implants and replacement teeth that are screwed in and only removable by the dentist.  Called an all-on-four

 

#1 is your cheapest while #3 is the most expensive. 

 

Good luck

There are several options based on your needs and expectations of function and aesthetics. The first question to answer is whether you want a fixed or removable prosthesis. Then for each type, there are several choices. Each option has a different cost, level of surgery, and length of time for completion. Whatever the option, a full diagnostic and CT scan-guided planning helps provide treatments with precision and accuracy. See link below for detailed discussion of option as well as some helpful videos.

Dr. Kazemi

When you are missing all of your top teeth you experience a number of challenges. It can be hard to smile, hard to chew well, and hard to taste food.

Dental implants can offer dramatic improvements. There are a number of options, depending upon what is most important to you.

Two implants can hold a full denture and it can "snap" onto the implants. This adds a lot of stability and confidence. Even with two implants, it is still necessary to have a denture that covers your full upper jaw (and the roof of your mouth).

Four implants can either support a full denture with even stronger chewing force or provide the option of a permanent bridge. A permanent bridge can be attached to the implants. This bridge no longer sits on your gums, but rests only on the implants. This is a more comfortable fit.

In addition, a bridge can allow you to chew with very strong forces. It also is a much more slender replacement- closer to a natural row of teeth. This is a very nice result. It can make your smile look amazing and you can chew anything

Some patients want the best. This may mean placing 8 to 12 implants to allow teeth more like crowns. You can chew very well, and the teeth are slim and natural sized. This is the most attractive result that feels the most natural.

Dental implant procedures vary widely in cost. These can be major reconstructions, however implants can replace your teeth for a lifetime.

The answer to the best option is clear, it needs to be something stable so it has to be supported by dental implants, not just tissue.  The options in order of simple to more complex are below.  The best option for you needs to be determined by a dental professional.

1) Removable denture - supported by tissue only and really is the most basic option, not very stable, covers the roof of your mouth, causes mouth soars and looses stability over time.  Only advantage is that its the entry level model least expensive.

2) Locator over-denture - a denture that snaps into implants, its still resting on tissue but it has the advantage of having stability provided by the presence of implants.  This option usually requires at least 4 well distributed implants for support.

3) Bar over-denture - same as above but instead of the implants standing individually the implants are splinted together by a bar, this means less tissue contact is needed and we can often remove the palate plastic that exists in a normal denture.

4) Implant retained bridges - these are the cadillac solutions, they employ 4-8 or more implants distributed in the jaw bone and have a fixed bridge that is either screwed or cemented in place.  Since there is no tissue support this is the most comfortable option, it is also the most costly.  Recent advances in technology enable the placement of 4-6 implants and having the teeth inserted the same day.. this is often called all-on-4 dental implants. 

Have a good consult see what the condition of the bone in your mouth is and what option best suits you. 

Hope this helps.

 

If the teeth on the jaw are absent the treatment can be performed with different options: removable prosthesis, overdenture (prosthesis) with implant support, or fixed prosthesis (teeth) fixed on implants. And depending on financial side of the treatment it can be from simple like a removable denture (always covered by insurance) to sophisticated and the most comfortable like fixed teeth from the time of implant placement. In our office we see a lot of patients who are missing teeth, and at the time of implant placement with technique All-On-4 we attach temporary prosthesis- making it fixed. All the patients feel a tremendous relief having fixed teeth and being able to eat whatever foods they want.