Full-arch dental implant questions, answered

What does treatment with six implants and three bridges actually involve?

Six titanium implants are placed across one jaw at planned positions. After they integrate with your bone, they support three separate fixed bridges rather than one continuous prosthesis. The bridges are not removable by you, and your natural gum line stays visible instead of being covered by acrylic gum material.

How long is the healing period?

Implants generally need several months to integrate with bone before the final bridges are attached. The exact timeline depends on whether extractions or grafting were needed and how your bone responds. You wear a temporary restoration during that period, so you're not without teeth.

Is the surgery painful?

The procedure itself is done with anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during it. Afterward, most patients describe soreness and swelling for several days, managed with the medication and aftercare instructions we send you home with. Discomfort levels vary with how much surgery your case required.

Will I leave the office without teeth?

Our goal is that you don't. A temporary restoration is designed ahead of your surgery date so it can be fitted the same day in most cases.

What can I eat afterward?

You'll start on a soft diet while tissues heal and gradually return to normal foods as we clear you at follow-up visits. Once the final bridges are placed, most patients eat a full diet, though we advise care with extremely hard items just as we would with natural teeth.

How do I clean three fixed bridges?

Brush twice a day as normal, then clean beneath and between the bridges with a floss threader, interdental brush, or water flosser. The gaps between the three separate bridges make this easier than cleaning under one continuous full-arch prosthesis. Regular hygiene visits are important for long-term success.

How long do the implants and bridges last?

Dental implants are designed as a long-term solution and many function for decades with good hygiene and regular care. The bridges on top are restorations and can wear, chip, or need replacement over time — with a segmented design, service usually involves one bridge rather than the entire arch.

Am I a candidate if I've been told I don't have enough bone?

Possibly. Bone loss is common after long-term tooth loss, and grafting or a sinus lift can rebuild support in many cases. A cone beam CT scan is the only way to know what your bone can carry — a second opinion is worth having.

Can I have just one arch treated?

Yes. Many patients treat the upper or lower arch first, based on which is causing the most difficulty, and decide about the second arch later.

How is this different from a denture?

A denture rests on your gums and is removed daily. Implant-supported bridges are anchored to implants in your jaw and stay in place — you clean around them rather than taking them out.

Do you treat patients from outside Montclair?

Yes. Our office at 31 S. Fullerton Ave. sees patients from Montclair, Upper Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, and across Essex County, New Jersey.

What happens at the first visit?

We review your history and goals, examine your mouth, take a cone beam CT scan, and discuss which full-arch approaches your anatomy supports. You leave with a written treatment plan and fees before committing to anything.

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