This
innovative restoration allows people with dentures or missing teeth
to get natural-looking replacement teeth in just one visit. You may
have seen news stories or ads about Teeth-in-a-Day or
Teeth-in-an-Hour, and thought they sounded too good to be true. Both
names describe an accelerated surgical and restorative protocol, and
here is how they came about
The
original protocol for dental implants required placing the implants
and allowing them to bond to the bone (a process called
osseointegration) for six months before restorations were attached. The
reason for this technique is that implants must initially remain
stable and immobile. They will fail if allowed to move before
osseointegration is complete.
During that six-month period, patients usually wore dentures or other types of removable appliances. Because this approach was almost 100 percent successful, practitioners were reluctant to alter the protocol. But patients wanted faster results, and further research showed that if implants were placed in very solid bone or if multiple implants were splinted together, they would remain stable enough to allow osseointegration with nearly the same success rate.
Extensive planning is required for Teeth-in-a-Day, and approaches vary for every patient. i-CAT CT scanning and 3-D imaging allow precision planning, ensuring that implants are placed in exact locations and in areas of dense bone. Provisional restorations are fabricated before the surgical appointment. Then, in a single appointment, old dentures or failing teeth are removed, and several implants are placed evenly around the jaw. Next, a complete arch of non-removable temporary teeth are attached to the implants. This provisional restoration will remain until osseointegration is complete. With this technique, implants remain stable because they are splinted together, and patients are thrilled that they can avoid a removable denture. Permanent restorations are placed once the bone has bonded to the implants. Teeth-in-a-Day can also be used for single implants when a CT scan shows that the bone is very dense.
This procedure gives you a new set of teeth that cannot slip or fall, and allows you the freedom to eat, speak and smile with confidence. Results are immediate, so you don’t have to worry about taking time off work or “laying low” while your restorations are being made. Dr.Newens have mastered this procedure and can give hope to denture wearers who want a strong, healthy and beautiful smile all in one visit. Call your Sacramento, Carmichael Dentist today about teeth in a day (All on 4).