Frequently Asked Questions
Select a procedure from the list below to view FAQs.
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Yes! However, while your implants and teeth are securely placed from day one, we do ask that you maintain a soft diet during the 4 month healing period. What exactly does that mean? A good general rule is you can eat anything you can cut with a plastic fork. The reason for this is that you are investing in something that could last you many decades, even the rest of your life, and maintaining a softer diet during the healing period will allow the best integration of your implants into your bone and help ensure the best long-term outcome.
This life-changing procedure was pioneered by Portuguese dentist Paolo Malo in the 1990s. Since then, this procedure has safely been performed on hundreds of thousands of patients and has been improved upon to what you see today.
Caring for your teeth is very easy, but consistency is key. Just like we’re supposed to brush and floss natural teeth, we should do the same with our All-On-4 teeth and implants. A few minutes a day is all it will take to keep your mouth and implants healthy. Brushing your bridges with a soft bristle tooth brush and cleaning under them with a water flosser (WaterPik is a very popular, well-known brand) a few times a day is all it takes.
Smoking can increase the risk of implant complications, so we recommend not smoking with dental implants. Diabetics should also be aware of an increased risk for complication with dental implants. Controlling your diabetes is very important for the long-term success of your implants.
Other than that, simply follow up with your doctor regularly throughout the year for quick evaluations of your new implant teeth.
Your new implant bridges will be a new sensation and will take a few days or sometimes a few weeks to get used to.
While there will be moderate pain, it is similar to the pain of dental extractions. We use a combination of medications to help control pain and keep our patients as comfortable as possible.
While experiences will vary some, you should expect some discomfort and possibly swelling after your procedure. Many patients come in the next day for their post op appointment reporting very little discomfort. You will be prescribed pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort. Also, if you’re a candidate for it, the doctor will give you a steroid shot which will help with discomfort and swelling for the first few days.
This will vary from patient to patient, but, overall, the recovery period is shorter and easier with this procedure compared to other full arch or full mouth replacement options. This is mainly thanks to the bridges being attached directly to your jaws via your implants. Traditional dentures and implant dentures both require healing periods during which time the dentures are able to move and cause sore spots. Your pain should subside for the most part within 1-2 weeks, with complete healing typically after 6 months.
At Pacific Northwest Dental, we have the same advantages of the corporate implant centers by limiting our practice to dental implants and prosthetics. We have an in-house lab, competitive pricing, and same day teeth. However, we are privately owned, and every patient will be seen by our doctor. We focus on the satisfaction of our patients instead of monthly quotas, cost cutting, and shareholders. At the corporate implant centers, there is no guarantee that you will be treated by the same dentist that has the great reviews or your friend recommended you see. Our doctor oversees your procedure from beginning to end and the team at Park View Family Dental will do everything to make sure you are happy with your smile and take care of you like family.
Mini dental implants are not even related to what we do at Pacific Northwest Dental for our All-On-4 teeth in a day procedure. Please proceed with caution at any office recommending mini dental implants as a permanent solution. They have a very high failure/complication rate.
Snap-in implant dentures are a good option for some patients. We also provide this service and have an entire page dedicated to these if you want to learn more. They can be a more affordable alternative to the All-On-4 Teeth in a Day dental implant procedure.
You should come in every 6 months to have your teeth/implants checked and cleaned. This will help ensure the longevity of your new teeth and implants.
Tori are bony knots that develop in the mouth of many patients. They are not harmful, however, they can prevent your denture(s) from fitting comfortably, so your doctor will often recommend having them removed.
This is completely normal when you first have a prosthesis (denture) placed in your mouth. Your body senses it as a foreign object and is trying to “flush” it out. This increased salivation should subside within 2-3 days.
Yes we can put you to sleep, we have an in house CRNA that will provide IV sedation, but if you are not a candidate to be put to sleep then we can offer an oral form of sedation as well.
Most cases will be attached immediately. In certain situation, mostly dependent on your bone quality and quantity, we will not be able to attach your bridge(s) the same day and you will need to wear a temporary healing denture while your implants integrate into the bone. Your doctor go over this in-depth at your evaluation.
Significant bleeding will have stopped before you leave the clinic, however, expect to have some slight bleeding (oozing) for 1-3 days after the procedure. In addition, you will most likely notice increased salivation when we first put your temporary teeth in. When this increased saliva mixes with a little blood, it can look like a lot of blood. If heavy bleeding continues, please call the office.
Just as you would need practice in order to get used to functioning with a prosthetic leg, it will require some practice and patience to get used to your prosthetic teeth. With that being said, since they are rigidly anchored to your jaw, All-On-4 teeth will be the easiest to get used to of all the full-arch replacement options.
Again, this will take a little time, but with some patience and practice, your mouth and tongue will quickly adjust. S’s will be the toughest to pronounce. Practicing words like “Mississippi” and “sixty six” will help you get used to your new teeth. In some cases, patients may have a slight lisp long term with All-On-4 upper teeth.
Patients should wait 6 weeks after their procedure before they begin cleaning with a water flosser.
No, this is not just a procedure for the elderly. It’s actually quite common for people in their 40s, 30, even 20s to need to replace their teeth. Replacing bad teeth can be hugely beneficial to your overall physical health, and being able to smile, laugh, and converse confidently with teeth you’re proud of can be hugely beneficial to your emotional health. Again, needing to replace teeth early in life is not uncommon at all.
- ice packs
- wash cloths you don’t mind throwing away
- comfortable clothes you don’t mind throwing away
- soft foods (a good rule is you can eat anything you can cut with a fork)
We make the final bridge out of zirconia. Zirconia is much stronger and more resistant to staining and wear than traditional acrylic All-On-4 teeth that many offices provide. If you choose another office, make sure you know what kind of teeth you will be getting. If you do get acrylic denture teeth with a titanium bar at another office, expect to have staining around your teeth and to replace them every 5-10 years. Also, make sure you know how much you are going to pay for the surgery, temporaries, and final teeth. Many offices will charge you a surgery/temporary fee only for you to find you owe an additional $5,000-$15,000 for your final teeth.
The total cost for a single arch (upper or lower) is $25,000. There will be $5,000 discount for both arches. These prices include removing any remaining teeth, placing your implants, same day fixed temporary teeth, and your fixed permanent zirconia teeth. Many offices will charge a surgery fee, temporary fee, and then surprise you at the end with another fee for your final teeth. Our pricing is completely transparent, and we will not surprise you with any additional costs.
What is unique about this procedure, and what allows us to attach to your implants from day one, is that all of your implants will be rigidly splinted together by your new teeth (the implant bridge). Splinting them together prevents the micro-movement of the implants that can lead to failure early on. Basically, your implants and bridge all support each other.
Your dental implants will be made of titanium, the same material used in artificial hip and knee joints, so your jawbone will naturally grow around and attach to them over time.
The majority of patients that have been told they are not a candidates for dental implants are actually good candidates for the All-On-4 Teeth in a Day procedure. A combination of using angled implants and using the front of the jaw bone where the bone is more dense allows us to complete this procedure for many patients that thought it was not an option. We can usually perform this procedure without the need for expensive grafting that delays treatment by months or years. Please come see us for a complimentary consultation to see if you are a candidate.
Yes! This is our preferred way of doing this procedure with the best outcome. With the advanced implants and materials that we have available today, there is usually no reason to have to wait months or even years to go through the process like you had to do in the past.
No, our doctor is a general dentist that limits their practice to dental implantology and prosthetics. Dental implantology is their passion, and they have placed more dental implants than most specialists and other general dentists. In a very select cases, they will collaborate with other dental specialists to ensure that their patients get the best possible treatment for their specific situation.
Because of the high number of these procedures we perform and limiting our practice to very specific procedures, we have advantages that other offices do not have. We have our in-house lab and lab technician and a single dentist that performs the entire procedure. Because of the efficiencies, we are able to offer these procedures for our patients at the most competitive pricing. Not only do we have the best prices, we also use the best quality implants and zirconia teeth.
Yes. We offer a variety of payment options including third party financing. We work with our patients in any way possible to get them smiling again.
If a dental implant fails to integrate we will replace it at no cost. We warranty the final bridge for 5 years. To keep this warranty, our patients must return every 6 months for maintenance and hygiene of their bridges/implants. The warranty does not apply to patients that continue to smoke or have uncontrolled diabetes or develop other uncontrolled systemic conditions that compromise their implants.
Usually the surgery takes about 1 hour per arch. Then, the lab portion of making the teeth takes about 2 hours. If we start in the morning, for a single upper or lower arch patients are usually done around lunch time. If we are replacing both top and bottom teeth, we usually finish around 2:30 to 3:30 in the afternoon. Most of this time is waiting for the teeth to be made in our lab and trying them in to ensure your smile is just right. It is a long day, but will definitely be worth it in the end!
We do everything possible to ensure you love your new smile. The teeth you get the same day of surgery are only a temporary/transitional set. When we fabricate your final teeth, you will have full control of the design and appearance of your teeth.
While this is a good service for many patients, in the rare case of complications or teeth breaking, it is very difficult to deal with if you traveled thousands of miles away or even out of the country. Most local offices will not be willing to fix these out of town offices work. A major advantage of having a transitional set of fixed teeth on the day of your surgery is you get to test them out and see what you like/don’t like. For the final zirconia or nano-ceramic teeth we can do try-ins to ensure that your teeth look exactly like you want them to look. While it’s great to get your final teeth immediately, it does come with some serious downsides that cannot be overlooked.
No, they are rigidly attached to your implants, which are firmly anchored in your jaw. If your All-On-4 teeth begin rocking for any reason, call us so we can bring you in for an evaluation.
It is referred to as teeth in a day because you are receiving a set of implant-supported functional prosthetic temporary teeth in one day. Since there are often major changes in your mouth during the healing and implant integration phase, it is best to start with a temporary set up teeth. This ensures the best long-term outcome with your permanent teeth.
Yes, your temporary teeth are made of acrylic and can chip, crack, and occasionally break. This is very common. The great thing about the acrylic temporary is that it can easily be repaired. If you have any issues with your temporary, just give us a call and we’ll get you fixed up right away.
While it is possible for zirconia and nano-ceramic to be damaged, it’s extremely uncommon. Zirconia and nano-ceramic are among the strongest and most durable materials available in the dental world.
Unfortunately, not. Since your existing implants will not be the correct position that this procedure requires, and since bone reduction will need to be performed, we can not use your existing implants and they will most likely need to be removed.
No, you can not remove these yourself. Only the dentist is able to remove them. They are secured to your implants.
Yes, any prosthetic in the mouth will get some amount of food under it. You can rinse with water to get food out from under your bridge(s), and cleaning every day with a water flosser will be part of your long-term hygiene regimen.
Of all full arch replacement options, All-On-4 tends to have the shortest time required before returning to work. Generally 4-7 days is sufficient. With that said, since there is always the chance of bruising and swelling, and you’ll need to get used to eating and speaking with your new teeth, the longer you can take off, the better.
An upper implant denture requires at least 4 implants. A lower implant denture requires at least 2 implants. The more implants you have, the more stable your denture will generally be. This is especially true with the lower denture. Three or 4 implants in the lower is usually much better than 2.
For pricing information on snap-in implant dentures click here!
In many cases, yes! We’ll just need to see you for a free consultation, during which we will do a 3D CBCT scan of your jaw to see if you have enough bone for dental implants.
No, we must allow time for your implants to integrate with your bone. This is what makes your implants truly stable and will help ensure you enjoy many years or decades of use out of them. We typically wait between 4 and 6 months before attaching to your implants.
While experiences will vary, you should expect some discomfort and possibly swelling after your procedure. Many patients come in the next day for their post op appointment reporting very little discomfort. You will be prescribed pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort.
We do not currently put patients to sleep, however, we do offer oral conscious sedation. This medication will help to relax you and often makes it so you don’t even remember your procedure. For this, we write you a prescription, and you can pick it up at your pharmacy of choice. NOTE: You MUST have a driver for this procedure, someone who can drive you after you have taken your oral sedation pill(s). You MUST NOT operate a motor vehicle or any machinery after taking your medication.
Yes! They are much more secure than dentures alone, and we are able to increase the retention with stronger inserts if you prefer.
It depends. Ideally, we would need to spread the dental implants out to be able to remove a portion of the palate in a snap-in denture. With our All-On-4 procedure, we can guarantee the ability to remove the palate, but that’s not always the case with snap-in dentures.
When we are able to remove the palate, this increases the ability to taste for many patients, and also increases hot and cold sensitivity, making for a more natural experience. For those patients with a severe gag reflex, removing the palate of the denture can also help provide relief.
If you are a candidate for a palate-less denture, it will be removed from your final denture. This is after healing and osseointegration are complete and we are ready to attach to your implants (appromximately 4-6 months after placement of your implants).
Typically 1 to 2 times per year. This will depend on how many implants you have, how strong your bite is, how frequently you take your dentures in and out, and several other factors.
WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT BITE YOUR DENTURES INTO PLACE ON YOUR IMPLANTS! This will wear out your inserts significantly faster. Only place your implant dentures in by hand.
Alveoplasty is a procedure where the doctor contours your jawbone. This procedure is important because it can significantly improve the fit and comfort of your dentures.
Tori are bony knots that develop in the mouth of many patients. They are not harmful, however, they can prevent your denture(s) from fitting comfortably, so your doctor will often recommend having them removed.
This is completely normal when you first have a prosthesis (denture) placed in your mouth. Your body senses it as a foreign object and is trying to “flush” it out. This increased salivation should subside within 2-3 days.
Significant bleeding will have stopped before you leave the clinic, however, expect to have some slight bleeding (oozing) for 1-3 days after the procedure. In addition, you will most likely notice increased salivation when we first put your denture(s) in. When this increased saliva mixes with a little blood, it can look like a lot of blood. If heavy bleeding continues, please call the office.
An old home remedy that still works really well to help clotting and stop bleeding is the use of tea bags. Just get a regular tea bag, get it damp, squeeze out the excess water, place it on your extraction site or sites, and the bags will help you clot. Multiple tea bags can be used if needed. Replace the tea bags if they get saturated with blood. This process can be repeated as many times as you need.
We do not currently offer this type of implant. While titanium implants have been around for decades with a long track record of success, zirconia implants are very new to the market, so we do not know what their success will be like long-term. We want the most successful, most predictable long-term results for our patients, and for these reasons, we do not offer zirconia implants at this time.
Yes, any prosthetic in the mouth will get some amount of food under it. The great thing about implant dentures is how easy they are to clean. Just take them out; clean the denture(s), your gums, and implants; and snap them back in.
Every patient is different. Some return to work the next day, others wait a week or two. Since there is always the chance of bruising and swelling, and you’ll need to get used to eating and speaking with your new teeth, the longer you can take off, the better.
A soft liner is a cushion we place inside your denture to help it fit and feel better as your mouth heals and changes shape following extractions.
No, this is not just a procedure for the elderly. It’s actually quite common for people in their 40s, 30s, even 20s to need to replace their teeth. Replacing bad teeth can be hugely beneficial to your overall physical health. Also, having teeth that allow you to confidently smile, laugh, and converse can be hugely beneficial to your emotional health. Again, needing to replace teeth early in life is not uncommon at all.
- Ice packs
- Wash cloths you don’t mind throwing away
- Comfortable clothes you don’t mind throwing away
- Soft foods such as:
– soups
– yogurt
– cottage cheese
– smoothies
– protein shakes
– eggs
– mashed potatoes (gravy optional)
Just as you would need practice in order to get used to functioning with a prosthetic leg, it will require some practice and patience to get used to your new prosthetic teeth. With that being said, since they are attached with implants, your dentures will be much easier to get used to than regular dentures.
Again, this will take a little time, but with some patience and practice, your mouth and tongue will quickly adjust. S’s will be the toughest to pronounce. Practicing words like “Mississippi” and “sixty six” will help you get used to your new teeth. In some cases, patients may have a slight lisp long term with implant dentures.
Some patients may experience very slight rocking with their dentures. For patient who have 2 lower implants, these must be placed in the front of the jaw making it possible for some rocking to occur. A dab of adhesive at the back on each side of the lower denture will usually take care of this.
In this case, your best bet would be the All-On-4 procedure. Not all snap-in dentures can have the palate removed.
Yes. Having removable implant dentures makes cleaning them very convenient. Just take them out; clean the denture(s), your gums, and implants; and snap them back in.
While titanium dental implants do have a 95+% success rate, yes, they can still fail. Some of the things that can cause them to fail:
- failure to integrate into the bone
- smoking
- diabetes
If an implant fails within the first year, your dentist will replace it at no charge to you.
- Snaps | Periodically you’ll need to change out the snap rings in your implant dentures. These wear and lose retention over time and as you take your teeth in and out. They’re quick and affordable to have changed out.
- Cleanings | Just like with natural teeth, you’ll need to have your implants cleaned periodically. Any buildup on your implants will be removed and your dentures will be cleaned.
- Periodic re-fittings | Your mouth will still change over time, so your dentures will need to be re-fitted to ensure their best performance and ensure that unnecessary stress isn’t being put on your implants.
- Home maintenance | It only takes a few minutes a day. Take your dentures out 1-2 times per day and brush them with a denture brush or very soft bristled toothbrush. Also, don’t forget to clean your implants. scrub these with a very soft dental brush also.
It depends. Since every case is unique, we’ll need to see you for a consultation to figure out the best course of treatment for you.
At this time, we do not place temporary crowns or bridges on implants that have just been placed. The reason for this is that we want as little force being placed on the implants as possible while we wait for them to integrate with your jawbone.
Most people are candidates for dental implants, even those who have been told they weren’t in the past. Call us to schedule your consultation and let’s see what we can do to get you smiling again.
Care for them like natural teeth:
- Brush and floss twice a day.
- Get cleanings regularly at intervals recommended by your dentist.
In the mouth, they look almost exactly like a natural tooth. The implant body (the screw) won’t be visible in the mouth. It is under the gums in your bone.
Yes! It will feel different from a natural tooth but will function the same.
Most patients are able to return to work either the same day or the next day. Certain cases could require more time off from work.
The process is very straight forward. Your implant is placed into your jawbone and is left alone to integrate for 4-6 months. After this, we take impressions and have your tooth fabricated. If bone grafting is needed, this can increase treatment time.
No, once your implant is completed, you will not be able to remove it.
We do not currently put patients to sleep, however, we do offer oral conscious sedation. This medication will help to relax you and often makes it so you don’t even remember your procedure. For this, we write you a prescription, and you can pick it up at your pharmacy of choice. NOTE: You MUST have a driver for this procedure, someone who can drive you after you have taken your oral sedation pill(s). You MUST NOT operate a motor vehicle or any machinery after taking your medication.
You may continue to bleed slightly for the first 24 hours after your implant placement. If you feel that you are bleeding more than you should be, please call the clinic.
An old home remedy that still works really well to help clotting and stop bleeding is the use of tea bags. Just get a regular tea bag, get it damp, ring out the excess water, place it on your extraction site or sites, and the tanic acid in the tea leaves will help you clot. Multiple tea bags can be used if needed. Replace the tea bags as they get saturated with blood. This process can be repeated as many times as you need.
While experiences will vary, there could be some discomfort and possibly swelling after your procedure. Many patients report very little discomfort after their procedure. You will be prescribed pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort.
We do not currently offer this type of implant. While titanium implants have been around for decades with a long track record of success, zirconia implants are very new to the market, so we do not know what their success will be like long-term. We want the most successful, most predictable, best long-term results for our patients, and for these reasons, we do not offer zirconia implants at this time.
While titanium dental implants do have a 95+% success rate, yes, they can still fail. Some of the things that can cause them to fail:
- failure to integrate into the bone
- smoking
- diabetes
If an implant fails within the first year, your dentist will replace it at no charge to you.