Reassuring Smiles
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 19th October 2021
Over the last decade, several studies have been causally linking the effects of oral health with the mortality of elderly people. As individuals age, it’s common that several teeth will be lost along the way. But with the quality of life and level of care on offer constantly improving, people are now living longer and keeping more of their teeth to a much later age. Around only 30% of people aged 65-74 do not have any of their natural teeth left, which is a significant decrease compared to earlier years.[i] Even though it isn’t just older people that are affected by edentulism, they are likely to make up the majority that will be seeking the full arch restoration treatment.
While not aesthetically pleasing, tooth loss also reduces masticatory capacity, which can influence food selection, nutrition and a person’s general health, making restorative treatments highly attractive.[ii]
Traditionally, patients would have only been offered removable dentures as a solution to complete edentulism. With the use of cutting-edge technology and products, full arch reconstruction with dental implants is now available for the majority. However, the concept of full arch rehabilitation may be unfamiliar and somewhat daunting for patients, making it vital for them to understand its true benefits.
Confidence in Comfort
Given full arch rehabilitation with implants requires patients to undergo surgery, it’s likely they will be nervous about how much pain the treatment will cause. They can be reassured that they will be given local anaesthetic in order to keep the procedure relatively pain-free. Innovative implant placement techniques may give patients peace of mind that they will feel minimal discomfort post-surgery as well.[iii] In utilising the concept of immediate loading, full arch rehabilitation can often be completed with just one surgical phase, giving patients their prosthesis on the same day for added convenience.
Long Lasting Life
Being a fairly invasive treatment that requires a substantial investment of time and finances, it’s to be expected that patients will question the longevity of their implants. But their worries can be eased given that dental implants are created to last.[iv] Due to the development of biocompatible materials and techniques designed to optimise both primary and secondary stability, full arch implant treatment can be long-lasting. For the very best results and optimal longevity, patients must be educated on their own role in maintenance.[v]
This involves informing patients of how to correctly clean around their implants and prostheses on a daily basis. While the hard and soft tissues will be closely monitored during check-up appointments, it should be stressed that in order for the implants to maintain their function for a number of years, patients need to clean the space between the gingiva and the fixed bridges, especially around implant sites. This should be done on a regular basis and with the correct tools – for example, it’s advised that this be done with dental floss or interdental brushes. If patients fail to keep up this routine then not only will their oral health decline, but the life of their restoration and dental implants will also be limited. [vi]
By Dentists for All
Given that the demand for full arch rehabilitation has gradually risen in the past decade, it’s important to make sure that each patient is given the right restorative treatment for them. While many will be suitable for this type of procedure, each patient will be different in terms of their clinical requirements as well as personal expectations.
To this end, it’s important that clinicians have access to versatile treatment solutions that can be adapted for their individual patients. Systems such as NeoArch® from Neodent®are a great example. NeoArch® offers a flexible and practical solution for complete edentulism. It allows many patients to avoid the process of bone grafting when preparing for treatment and offers a one-day treatment procedure allowing for minimal discomfort and maximum patient satisfaction.
When seeking a solution for edentulism, patients should feel confident that the right full arch restoration solution for them will be comfortable and long-lasting, while also giving them a reason to smile again. You can be prepared for a range of cases with a flexible armamentarium and the right tools for the job.
For more information, please visit https: www.neodent-uk.co/efficiency
[i] National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Tooth Loss in Seniors. Available: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/tooth-loss/seniors. Last accessed 14th May 2021.
[ii] Annlia Paganini-Hill, Stuart C. White, and Kathryn A. Atchison. (2011). Dental Health Behaviors, Dentition, and Mortality in the Elderly: The Leisure World Cohort Study. National Library of Medicine. 4 (10), 1-17.
[iii] Revitalise Dental Centre. (2018). Why You Shouldn’t Fear Getting Dental Implants. Available: https://www.chicagodentalarts.com/nervous-getting-dental-implants-heres-shouldnt-worry-procedure/. Last accessed 13th May 2021.
[iv] Laura Werbelow, Michael Weiss & Alexander Schramm. (2020). Long-term follow-up of full-arch immediate implant-supported restorations in edentulous jaws: a clinical study. International Journal of Implant Dentistry. 6 (34), 1-20.
[v] Revitalise Dental Centre. (2020). How long do Dental Implants last?. Available: https://www.revitalisedentalcentre.co.uk/how-long-do-dental-implants-last/#:~:text=Dental%20implants%20are%20designed%20to,teeth%20and%20your%20oral%20hygiene. Last accessed 13th May 2021.
[vi] Straumann. A Smile For Everyone. Neodent. 1 (1), 1-12.
