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Two Stage Treatment: The two stages include provisional/temporary stage and the final stage (it takes one month to fabricate final prosthesis)
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Total of 6 Appointments: Appointments include 1) Records before surgery for provisional prosthesis 2) Day of Surgery 3) Check occlusion after surgery 4) New records for final restoration 5) Bar with teeth try-in 6) Final delivery of final hybrid restoration
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Implant Stability: There is a very slight chance you will need to go into an immediate denture should implants not torque. It is extremely rare, however the final restoration will still be fixed or non-removable because it is screw-retained.
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Provisional VS. Final Restoration: The provisional/temporary prosthesis will be made entirely of acrylic and the final hybrid bridge will be supported by a titanium bar for long-term wear and durability.
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Provisional Teeth: The provisional set of teeth will only extend to the last implant and may feel "short" in order to avoid fractures. Your final restoration will reach past the last implant giving you more teeth to chew on.
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Length of Provisional Stage: Your provisional should be worn for 6 months until which time the tissue is completely remodeled in order to achieve the best final result.
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Aesthetic Changes: Consider the provisional a test run for any changes you'd like to make to the final set of teeth and share with your restorative dentist at the first final appointment.
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Long-Term Maintenance: The titanium implant supported bar is for life in most cases but teeth will need to be replaced every 5-8 years on the average depending on opposing dentition and wear. There is an additional cost for this.
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Clinical Care and Removal: Regular hygiene appointments with your regular dentist will be necessary to maintain your prosthesis. Screws should be replaced each time your prosthesis is removed. Good personal hygiene will reduce how often this needs to be done. There is an additional cost for this.
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Patient Hygiene: Avoid regular toothpaste and abrasive cleaners. Gently clean with baby brush and use a proxy brush or Waterpik® around implants followed by an oral rinse prescribed by your dentist.
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Diet: While you are wearing your provisional, please only consume foods that you can cut with a fork. This includes cooked vegetables, chicken and fish. Foods to avoid are things like nuts, hard candies, raw vegetables and tough meats.
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Provisional/Temporary Implant Bridge: Your temporary or provisional set of teeth will only reach to the last implant which may feel short to you in order to avoid fractures. Rest assured, your final hybrid set of teeth with extend farther back because it will be support by a strong titanium bar.
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Bite/Occlusion: During surgery, you mouth was open for an extended period of time. This may cause disorientation in your bite resulting in difficulty in accurately setting your occlusion (how the teeth come together). An additional appointment with your regular dentist will be necessary to do any final adjustments 48 hours after surgery.
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Gap: Your temporary prosthesis will rest slightly above your tissue to avoid pain after surgery, allow the tissue to freely heal as well as allow you to keep your provisional clean. As your tissue heals from surgery, the gap or space between your temporary implant bridge and your tissue may slightly increase. Your final hybrid bridge will close this gap to a minimum always leaving some space to be able to clean under your final implant bridge.
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Provisional/Temporary Period: Use this time to determine what, if anything, about your teeth you would like to change for your final restoration i.e.
shade/shape/smile line etc. Share these changes in your first appointment for the final restoration with your dentist. Once your final implant bridge is made, you cannot go back and make changes. The first appointment is the time to do this.
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At-Home Hygiene: Use oral rinse only as prescribed by your dentist for the first two weeks after surgery. Thereafter, avoid regular toothpaste and abrasive cleaners. Gently clean with baby brush and use a proxy brush or Waterpik® around implants followed by oral rinse.
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Fractures: Should your provisional/temporary set of teeth fracture for any reason, please see your regular dentist immediately. |
