Page 39 - Southdown Dental Implant Book

38 | GETYOURSMILEBACK:EVERYTHINGYOUNEEDTOKNOW... placed on the top or lower arch (jaw) in the mouth. After this, bridges are screwed on to the implants. These bridges can’t be taken in and out by the patient, so they suffer less wear and tear than implant-supported over dentures (which can be snapped on and off ). This solution also feels more permanent, or “natural.” I generally encourage patients to come back every six months, just like they would for a regular dental check up. At this time, I can remove their bridges, clean them thoroughly in the places a patient can’t reach, and put them back on the implants. This procedure is similar to “All-on-Four®” implants (which is something you may have heard of ) but I find that using a couple more implants than four, in an implant-supported fixed bridge system, is a superior, more successful investment.