Full-Arch Dental Implants in Manchester, NH: Are You a Candidate?

If you're missing most of your teeth on the top or bottom, or the teeth you have left keep failing, full-arch dental implants replace the whole row with new teeth anchored in your jaw. Whether you're a candidate comes down to your general health, your jawbone and what you want for your smile. A 3D scan and an unhurried conversation answer most of it. Here's how Dr. Russell Mann and our team at Mann Family Dental work through that question with you.

What are full-arch dental implants?

Full-arch dental implants are a set of implants placed in one jaw to hold a full row of replacement teeth. Each implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone, and over time the bone grows around it so it can anchor the teeth on top. When you're replacing more than one tooth, implants can support a bridge or a denture made to fit your mouth, as the American Dental Association's patient guide to implants explains.

Full-mouth care is the work Dr. Mann loves most, along with same-day smile makeovers. You can see how the treatment works on our full-mouth dental implants page.

Am I a candidate for full-arch implants?

You may be a good candidate if you're in good general health and you have enough jawbone to hold the implants, or you're able to have a bone graft to build it up. Some health conditions, like diabetes, and tobacco use can affect how well implants do, so bring your medical history and your questions to your first visit. The Mayo Clinic's overview of dental implant surgery walks through the same checklist.

Your first visit is where you find out. Our new-patient visit runs a full 90 minutes and includes a 3D scan, full x-rays and a digital scan of your teeth. Dr. Mann spends the first 10 to 15 minutes getting to know you, your worries and what you want for your smile. "You cannot do that in 30 minutes," he says.

A full arch is one of several ways to replace missing teeth. Depending on what your scan shows, your plan might use single tooth implants, an implant-supported denture or a full arch. Dr. Mann explains what he sees and your options in plain words. If it feels like a lot to take in, we can talk again the following week, because, as he tells patients, "ultimately, the decision is yours."

A few questions worth bringing to your consultation:

• How much bone do I have, based on my 3D scan?
• Would a full arch or an implant-supported denture suit me better?
• Will I need bone or gum grafting first?
• What options do I have to relax during treatment?
• How often will I come back for checkups afterward?

What if I was told I don't have enough bone?

If you were told years ago that you don't have enough bone for implants, that answer may have changed. In Dr. Mann's words, "Nobody knows, and you don't know until you take a three dimensional Cone Beam scan and look at it."

When the scan shows an area that needs more support, Dr. Mann can rebuild bone or gum tissue as part of your plan, in the same office where he places your implants. You can read more about that step on our bone grafting page.

How do you take care of full-arch dental implants?

You care for full-arch implants with daily brushing and cleaning at home, plus regular checkups so your dentist can look at the implants and the gums around them. Implants need the same steady care as natural teeth to stay healthy over the years.

That's why full-arch treatment is a commitment on both sides. "This is like a marriage," Dr. Mann says. Your part is caring for your new teeth at home and coming back to see us every six months. At those visits we check your implants and the gums around them.

Ask Dr. Mann at your consultation what home care your plan would need. Knowing that ahead of time is part of deciding whether a full arch fits your life.

Why do Manchester, NH patients choose Mann Family Dental for full-arch implants?

With Dr. Mann, one doctor stays with you from the first scan to the finished smile. He plans your implants on a 3D scan, places them himself, rebuilds bone or gum tissue when it's needed, and makes your final teeth with his own team, so the doctor who first sat down with you is the one who finishes your smile. He trained in implant surgery with oral surgeon Dr. Michael Pikos.

Comfort is part of the plan, too. For full-mouth implant surgery, an anesthesia team joins Dr. Mann in our office so he can focus entirely on your surgery. And once you book, Dr. Mann usually calls you himself the same day to say hello.

If it's been a long time since you've seen a dentist, Dr. Mann wants you to hear this first: "There's no shame. We've got to have a starting point. Let's take this in baby steps."

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a good candidate for full-arch dental implants?

You may be a good candidate if you're in good general health and have enough jawbone to hold the implants, or you're able to have a bone graft to build it up. Some health conditions, like diabetes, and tobacco use can affect how well implants do, so bring your medical history to your first visit.

What if I was told I don't have enough bone for implants?

That answer may have changed, and a 3D Cone Beam scan is how Dr. Mann finds out. If the scan shows an area that needs more support, he can rebuild bone or gum tissue as part of your plan, in the same office where he places your implants.

How do I take care of full-arch implants?

Brush and clean them every day at home, just as you would natural teeth. Then come back to see us every six months so we can check your implants and the gums around them.

What happens at my first visit?

Our new-patient visit runs a full 90 minutes and includes a 3D scan, full x-rays and a digital scan of your teeth. Dr. Mann starts by getting to know you, your worries and what you want for your smile, then explains your options in plain words.

The easiest first step is a complimentary consultation at our Manchester dental office, which includes a digital scan and photos of your smile, so you can see where things stand before you decide anything. Call us at (603) 625-9823 or send us a message to set up your visit. We welcome patients from Manchester, Goffstown, Bedford and Hooksett.

Published by Mann Family Dental (Dr. Russell D. Mann).