Full-arch implants
What does "full-arch" or "All-on-4" mean?
All the teeth in an arch, upper or lower, are replaced by one fixed bridge held on four or more implants. "All-on-4" is one company's name for the technique. You'll also hear All-on-X, which just means the number of implants is chosen for your bone, not fixed at four.
Am I a candidate?
Usually, if you're losing most of the teeth in an arch or already wear a denture you dislike. Health matters more than age. A consultation and a 3D scan of your jaw answer the question properly. Sometimes the honest answer is that saving teeth or a different type of implant treatment suits you better.
Do I really leave with teeth the same day?
In most cases, yes. Surgery starts in the morning, and a temporary fixed bridge is attached to the implants the same afternoon. It's a strong, natural-looking set of teeth that you wear while the implants heal. The final bridge replaces it a few months later.
Will I be awake?
You'll be under IV moderate sedation, which I provide myself. You're deeply relaxed and most people remember almost nothing. See the sedation page for the details.
How much does it hurt afterward?
Less than most people expect. There's swelling and some bruising for about a week, managed with medication and cold packs. Most patients describe soreness rather than pain, and it improves day by day.
What can I eat?
Soft foods while the implants heal, typically for a few months. Eggs, fish, pasta, soups, and soft-cooked vegetables. Not steak, raw carrots, or crusty bread. Once the final bridge is in, you eat normally.
I've been told I don't have enough bone. Is that the end of it?
Often not. Implants can be placed at angles that use the bone you have, and in some cases longer implants anchor in denser bone further back. Occasionally grafting is needed first. The 3D scan decides it.
How long do implants last?
The implants themselves can last decades with good care. The bridge on top is a mechanical part that wears and will eventually need repair or replacement, the way any prosthesis does. Regular cleanings and check-ups are part of owning implant teeth.
Does diabetes, smoking, or a heart condition rule me out?
Not automatically. Well-controlled diabetes and stable heart conditions are common among my patients. Smoking raises the risk of implant failure and I'll ask you to stop, at least around surgery. Each situation is assessed individually, sometimes with input from your physician.
Other procedures
Do you do single implants?
Yes. Single and multiple implants, including removing a failing tooth and placing the implant the same visit when conditions allow. I restore what I place, so the crown is done here too.
Do you take out wisdom teeth?
Yes, including impacted ones, under IV sedation if you'd prefer not to be aware of it.
Practical questions
What happens at the first visit?
A conversation about what's bothering you and what you want, an examination, a 3D scan, and a plain discussion of your options with their trade-offs. You leave with a plan and a cost, not a sales pitch.
How much does it cost?
It depends on what's being treated, how many implants you need, and the type of final bridge. I don't quote fees online because a number without an exam is a guess. You'll get an exact, itemized figure at your consultation.
Does insurance cover it?
Dental insurance usually pays a portion of some parts of implant treatment, and rarely a large share of the total. The office will check your plan and tell you before anything starts.
Where are you?
I practice at Optima Dental Surgery Center in Round Rock, just north of Austin. Details are on the contact page.