4 Times You Might Need a Full Arch Rehabilitation
You have two arches of teeth in your mouth, one at the top and one at the bottom. Sometimes, people need to have extensive work on one or both arches. They have an arch rehabilitation treatment.
Here, your dentist replaces all your top or bottom teeth, or both, usually with an implant-retained denture. When might you need this treatment?
1. You've Had an Accident or Injury
If you have had a traumatic accident that affects your face or jaw, then you might lose multiple teeth. Others might be damaged too seriously to save. This can happen in sports or auto accidents, for example.
If you lose a lot of teeth in an arch and the rest are weakened by damage, then your dentist might suggest a full arch procedure. Other restoration treatments typically work on smaller areas; however, this option works on the whole arch.
2. Your Teeth Are Badly Decayed
While your dentist might suggest fillings or crowns for individual teeth with decay, some people have widespread problems that affect multiple teeth. If you have a lot of decay, and your teeth are badly compromised, then fillings, crowns, and root canals might not fix all of them.
Your dentist might recommend that you fix the problem by treating the whole arch rather than individual teeth. An implant-retained arch bridge bundles all your treatment into one effective procedure that will last for years and finally fix your problems with decay.
3. You've Had Periodontitis
While dentists can fix gum disease, this condition can have severe effects on your teeth. If you don't catch and fix gum problems early, then you can develop periodontitis.
This is the most serious type of gum disease. If you get to this stage, then there is a chance that some of the teeth in the affected gum might become so loose or damaged that they need to be removed.
If enough of your teeth are left in bad shape after your periodontal treatment, then a full arch restoration might be the best way to replace them. You'll get a fixed arch that gives you a stable bite again.
4. You Have a Congenital Condition
Some people are born with congenital problems that affect their tooth development and placement. For example, some have a malformed dental arch. Others don't ever get a full set of teeth because the teeth aren't there to come through.
Here, your dentist can use rehabilitation treatments to fix the problem. They can create a new set of teeth that will fit in your arch.
To learn more about full arch rehabilitation, talk to your dentist.