Teeth In a Day

By Steve S. Dorsch, DDS, MD

Loudoun Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

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Teeth In a Day

Many people in the U.S. are missing some or all of their teeth. Many have been battling decay, periodontal disease and infections for all of their lives and may be investing more and more money into fixing things that have a poor long-term prognosis. For those who have lost all or most of their teeth, living with partial or full dentures can be challenging.

Frequently patients worry about their dentures slipping or falling out completely while speaking, eating or participating in activities. Poorly fitting dentures or loose and infected teeth keep them from eating the foods that they enjoy, often settling for the softer, less healthy food choices which can compromise their health.

The Teeth In A Day procedure has been evolving for over fifteen years with excellent results allowing people to smile and function with confidence again. This procedure has been brought to some people's attention by the ClearChoice centers. They advertise extensively and have raised a lot of public awareness about this procedure.

In reality, this procedure can be accomplished by most dentists or prosthodontists who feel comfortable working with dentures in combination with an experienced oral surgeon and a good lab. This cooperation allows patients to stay with the dentist they are comfortable with and receive excellent care in a safe and often more cost effective manner.

The procedure involves removing any decayed or diseased teeth and placing four to six implants. The implants are placed in a manner that takes advantage of the best quality of bone and can avoid major grafting procedures (in most cases). The implants are then used to secure a new set of teeth.

The patient's existing denture may be used as a temporary if it is in good shape, or a new better fitting one can be made to function as a temporary set of teeth if necessary. Because of the mutual stability of the implants the new set of teeth are very stable and can function immediately in most cases a softer diet for a period of time is needed. After four to six months the temporary teeth are changed over to a permanent set.

Although this is an excellent option for those losing the battle of dental disease this is not the right solution for everyone. Each patient should be evaluated individually and treatment options weighed. This procedure is another tool in our belt to help people live longer and happier lives feeling confident to smile, participate in activities and eat the foods they enjoy.