Complete Fixed BridgeComplete Fixed Bridge provided by Dr. Blake in Jupiter, FL at Roy C. Blake III, DDS, MSD, Maxillofacial Prosthodontist At Roy C. Blake III, DDS, MSD, Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, we offer complete fixed bridges affixed to dental implants as a permanent solution to patients who have lost all of their teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Non-removable and stable, they look and feel just like your own teeth while delivering a strong, functional, and good cosmetic result. Request an Appointment What Is A Non-Removable Fixed Bridge?A complete fixed bridge is a full arch of tooth restorations that are typically attached to five or six dental implants. The implants are embedded into the jawbone and act very much like tooth roots in their ability to support the teeth and withstand the considerable biting and chewing forces exerted upon them. Fixed implant bridges are permanently attached to the implants and cannot be taken out in the same way as an implant-supported overdenture can. The All-on-4® Treatment Concept done by Dr. Roy Blake is an example of this tooth replacement procedure. The All-on-4 is a revolutionary procedure that was pioneered by renowned implantologist Dr Paulo Malo, from Lisbon, Portugal. The procedure places only four dental implants in strategic points across the jaw to create a 3D trapezoid force to securely attach an arch of teeth. Who Is Suitable For An All-on-4?The All-on-4 is only suitable for patients who have lost all of their teeth, or who have lost most of them and do not mind losing their remaining teeth. If you go ahead with the procedure your remaining teeth can be extracted at the same time as the All-on-4 procedure, rather than having to undergo a separate procedure to remove them. What Are The Benefits Of A Complete Fixed Bridge?Once installed in your mouth, a fixed implant bridge will function, feel, and look like natural, healthy teeth. You will be able to smile, eat, and talk with confidence, secure in the knowledge that your prosthetic will not become loose, or fall out. A complete fixed bridge is a permanent solution to tooth loss and an alternative for patients who do not find dentures comfortable. They are easily maintained with a regular brushing routine for cleaning, supplemented with dental check-ups—just like you would with natural teeth. Some patients find removable full dentures difficult to wear. They are not securely attached, using only suction to hold them in place on the gums, which may result in the dentures moving, slipping, or falling out. This lack of security may make eating, talking, and smiling difficult—all of which can have repercussions on your life. The All-on-4 Treatment Concept is a far superior alternative, providing you with a full row of natural-looking, permanently attached teeth that don’t wobble, slip, or fall out. Dental implants help to maintain function and preserve the jawbone. The jawbone needs stimulation to stay healthy, otherwise it will atrophy and reabsorb. Once a tooth is lost, this process begins. Only a dental implant acts in the same way as a tooth root with the chewing and biting forces it sustains stimulating the bone around it to maintain health. Bone loss in the jaw is a problem for the insertion of dental implants, particularly traditional ones that replace just one tooth. However, because of the nature of how the implants are inserted in the All-on-4, as well as the fact that the two implants placed in the rear of the jaw are longer than traditional implants, some bone loss may not be an issue for this procedure. We will need to take a good look at your jawbone with scans to assess its health to ensure the All-on-4 is a good option for you. With a good oral hygiene regime, the All-on-4 will last for many years—if not a lifetime. You will need to be fastidious about brushing twice daily and flossing around the implants as harmful bacteria can cause a problem called peri-implantitis that may affect the health of your dental implants and cause them to fail. Can Anyone Have A Complete Fixed Bridge?Generally, anyone with good overall and oral health levels is a good candidate for a complete fixed bridge. We will take a thorough history and examine your mouth and jawbone to assess your suitability for dental implants. We will also take appropriate x-rays to assess the bone and the extent, if any, of bone loss. In cases where there is significant bone loss, there may not be enough jawbone left to place an implant. In these circumstances, a bone graft will be required to augment the bone. This is a common procedure in dentistry, but the graft will need to be taken (which may be up to a year) before the implant procedure can be undertaken. Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, that affect the body’s ability to heal may be contraindicated with dental implant treatments. Similarly, some medical treatments, including radiotherapy to the head and neck, may have deteriorated the bone density levels so that implants will not be seen as a recommended course of treatment. Dental implants can only be placed into bone that has stopped growing. Thus, they are not usually carried out on patients less than 18 years old. Finally, smoking is not advisable with dental implants—from a long-term health perspective, but also when implants have initially been placed and the healing process is a significant factor in the success of the procedure. Smoking reduces blood flow, which is important to carry nutrients around the body and defend against infection. Any disruption to this process can result in the failure of the dental implants. Who Is Unsuitable For An All-on-4?Patients with extensive bone loss may not be suitable for the All-on-4 Treatment Concept, although other procedures, such as bone grafting, may help to augment the jawbone so it can hold an implant. However, this procedure will delay your implant treatment by up to a year, so it is something to take into account if time is of the essence. Schedule A Consultation For Complete Fixed Bridges in JupiterFind out if complete fixed bridges in Jupiter, FL are right for you! Call (561) 296-3399 to schedule your consultation appointment today! Request an Appointment |
"Dr. Blake is always extremely professional, meticulous, accommodating, and at the same time, affable and sincerely interested in his patient’s well-being and concerns. The staff is at all times very courteous and professional. Their constant friendly and pleasant attitudes ensure that at every visit, the patient’s experience is always relaxing and positive." -John |
