Should You Do A Full Mouth Replacement All At Once Or In Stages?
Posted on: 6 February 2023
Sometimes dentists recommend patients have all their teeth pulled because of widespread damage caused by disease or poor care. Luckily, dental technology has advanced enough that you can get a full set of replacement teeth with just a few office visits. The main question then becomes whether you should get all your teeth replaced at the same time or do the procedure in stages.
Can You Afford the Time?
Doing a full-mouth replacement typically means getting dentures and the best type to have installed are implant-supported ones. This kind is superior because the false teeth are held in place by titanium posts directly embedded into your jawbone, so they don't slip around when you talk or eat.
One downside to this type of denture, though, is that it can take up to six months for the titanium posts to fully integrate into the bone. While the dentist will put in temporary teeth, you'll be limited in what you can eat and drink until your permanent ones can be installed. This means that, if you do the procedure in stages, it can take twice as long for the entire process to be completed.
Having the procedure done all in one go also presents its own challenges. The office appointments will typically take longer, and you'll experience more discomfort because your entire mouth will be healing from the treatment. If you're sensitive to pain or have a weakened immune system that impacts your healing ability, you may want to do the replacement in stages to reduce the burden on your body.
Can You Afford the Cost?
Perhaps the most important aspect you should consider when planning your full mouth replacement is whether you can afford the cost. The price for installing two implant posts is around $6,000. Implant-supported dentures for a full mouth will typically require more than that though, so you can expect the final price to be significantly more.
Doing the replacement all at once means you have to pay the entire cost in one go, whereas doing it in stages lets you stagger the hits to your budget. If you're working with limited funds, then breaking up the procedure into multiple stages can make the cost easier to handle.
It's important to note that many dentists have payment plans available, which can make getting replacement teeth more affordable. Talk to the dentist about this option to see if it is a good fit for you.
For more information about replacing missing teeth with dental implants, contact a local general dentist in your area.
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