Every question, answered honestly.

It replaces a full arch of teeth on four dental implants. Any remaining teeth are removed, the implants are placed, and a fixed bridge of temporary teeth goes on the same day. The implants are titanium, the same metal used in replacement knee and hip joints, so your jaw naturally grows around and attaches to them over time. Your final zirconia teeth come later. Read more on our Teeth in a Day page.

What makes this possible is that all of your implants are rigidly held in place by your new teeth, the implant bridge. That prevents the micro-movement of the implants that leads to early failure. Your implants and your bridge support each other while your jaw grows around the titanium.

Because you leave with a working set of implant-supported temporary teeth the same day. Your mouth changes significantly during the healing and integration phase, so it is best to start with a temporary set. That is what gives you the best long-term outcome with your permanent teeth.

It was created by Portuguese dentist Paolo Malo in the 1990s. Since then it has been performed safely on hundreds of thousands of people and improved into the method you see today.

In most cases, yes. In certain situations, mainly depending on the quality and quantity of your bone, we cannot attach your bridge during the procedure. If that happens you wear a temporary healing denture while your implants fuse to your bone. Dr. Thompson reviews this with you in depth during your exam.

Zirconia. It is much stronger and far more resistant to staining and wear than the conventional acrylic teeth many providers offer. If you are comparing offices, be certain you know what kind of final teeth you are getting. Acrylic teeth on a titanium bar tend to stain around the teeth and get replaced every five to ten years. Also be certain you understand the total you will pay for surgery, temporaries, and final prosthetics, because some practices quote a surgery and temporary fee only.

A snap-in denture is a removable denture that locks onto dental implants instead of just resting on your gums. It is far more secure than a denture alone, and we can increase the retention with stronger inserts if you want. Read more on our snap-in dentures page.

An upper implant denture needs at least four implants. A lower needs at least two. The more implants you have, the more stable the denture typically is, and that is especially true on the bottom. Three or four implants in the lower is usually much better than two.

Full dentures replace all of your natural teeth in the upper arch, the lower arch, or both.

Partial dentures replace some of the missing teeth in an arch. They typically attach to the surrounding natural teeth for stability and support.

As the name suggests, immediate dentures are placed immediately after your natural teeth are removed. They also act like bandages over the extraction sites, which helps control swelling and bleeding.

The process usually takes about 6 months, and longer for some patients. Impressions are taken before your procedure while your natural teeth are still in place, and your dentures are fabricated from them. On procedure day your teeth are removed and your new teeth are placed. A series of soft liners keeps the fit right across the 6 month healing period. A final processed hard reline finishes the job at the end.

Our dentures come in levels. As you move up, you get better wear resistance, better stain resistance, and longer warranties. Dr. Thompson lays the levels out side by side at your consultation so you can choose with everything in front of you.

It is straightforward. The implant is placed in your jawbone and left alone to fuse for 4 to 6 months. After that we take impressions and have your new tooth fabricated. If you need bone grafting, that can add to the treatment time. Read more on our single tooth implants and bridges page.

It depends. Every case is unique, so Dr. Thompson needs to see you for an exam to determine the best course of treatment for you.

At this time, no. We want as little force as possible on an implant while it integrates with your jawbone, so we do not place temporary crowns or bridges on implants that were just placed.

Mini dental implants are not related to what we do at Cleveland Dentures and Implants, and we would proceed cautiously with any office recommending them as a permanent implant solution. They have a very high failure and complication rate. Snap-in implant dentures are a different story. They are a great option for some patients, we provide them, and they can be a more affordable alternative to All-on-4.

No, not at this time. Titanium implants have been used for decades with a long track record of success. Zirconia implants are very new to the market, so nobody can be certain what their long-term success will be. We want the most successful, most predictable long-term result for you, so we do not offer them.

No. Dr. Thompson is a general dentist who limits the practice exclusively to prosthetics and dental implantology. This is their passion, and they have placed more dental implants than most specialists and most general dentists. In very select cases they collaborate with another dental specialist to make sure a patient gets the best possible treatment for their situation. Meet them on our team page.

Many patients who were told they aren't candidates for dental implants turn out to be great candidates for the All-on-4 procedure. Using angled implants and the front of the jaw, where the bone is denser, lets us treat many people who thought it was not an option. We can typically do it without expensive grafting that delays treatment by months or even years. Come see us for a complimentary implant exam and find out where you stand.

Most people are candidates for dental implants, including plenty who were told otherwise before. Call us to schedule your consultation and let's see what we can do to get you smiling again.

In most cases, yes. Dr. Thompson just needs to see you for a free consultation, where we take a 3D CBCT scan of your mouth to see whether you have enough bone for dental implants.

Unfortunately, no. Your existing implants will not be in the position this procedure requires, and bone reduction is part of the procedure, so your current implants will most likely need to be removed.

This is not only for seniors. It is actually very common for people in their 40s, 30s, and even 20s to need their teeth replaced. Replacing bad teeth can be very beneficial to your long-term health, and being able to smile, laugh, and converse confidently with teeth you are proud of benefits your emotional health too. Wanting to replace teeth early in life is not rare.

That is something you and Dr. Thompson will discuss at your free consultation. Almost all of our offices offer IV sedation or general anesthesia, and oral conscious sedation is also available in many practices. Your doctor will recommend what fits your health history and comfort level. If you choose sedation, you'll need a driver to and from your appointment. Learn more on our Oral & IV Sedation page.

Yes. Completing every step in the same day is our preferred way of doing this procedure because it supports the best final result. With the leading implants and materials available today, there is often no reason to wait months or years the way patients did in the past.

Surgery typically takes about 1 hour per arch. Making your temporary teeth usually takes about 2 hours. If we begin in the morning on a single upper or lower arch, you are usually done by lunch time. If we are replacing both top and bottom teeth, we usually finish closer to 2:30 or 3:30 in the afternoon. Much of that time is waiting for your teeth to be finished and tried in so your smile is just right. It is a long day, and it is worth it.

No. We have to allow time for your implants to integrate with your bone. That integration is what makes them truly stable and helps you get many years, or decades, of use out of them. We usually wait between 4 and 6 months before attaching your denture to your implants.

There will be moderate pain, similar to what is common with typical dental extractions. Our team uses a combination of medications to help control it and keep you as comfortable as possible.

Ice packs. Wash cloths you would not mind throwing out. Comfortable clothes you do not mind throwing away. And soft foods such as soups, yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, protein shakes, eggs, and mashed potatoes, gravy optional.

Alveoloplasty is a procedure where Dr. Thompson contours your jawbone. It matters because it can significantly improve the fit and comfort of your dentures.

Tori are bony knots that develop in the mouth of some patients. They are harmless, but they can keep your dentures from fitting comfortably, so Dr. Thompson will often recommend having them removed.

Experiences vary, but most patients should expect some soreness and some swelling. Many come in the next day for their post-op appointment reporting very little pain. You will be prescribed pain medication to help with any discomfort. If you are a good candidate for it, Dr. Thompson will offer a steroid injection to help with swelling and discomfort for the first few days.

Significant bleeding will have stopped before you leave our office. Expect some oozing for one to three days after the procedure. You will also most likely notice increased salivation when your new teeth first go in, and when that extra saliva mixes with a little blood it can look like a lot of blood. If heavy bleeding continues, call our office.

Tea bags. It is an old home remedy that still works quite well to encourage clotting. Get a regular tea bag damp, squeeze out the excess water, and place it on the extraction site. Use multiple tea bags if you need to, replace them if they get saturated with blood, and repeat as many times as needed.

Excess saliva is completely normal when you first have a prosthesis placed in your mouth. Your mouth senses it as a foreign object and tries to flush it out. The increased salivation should decrease within 2 to 3 days.

It varies from patient to patient, but overall recovery is faster and easier with All-on-4 than with other full arch replacement options. That is mainly because the bridges attach directly to your jaw through your implants. Traditional dentures and implant dentures both require healing periods during which the denture can move and create sore spots. Most of your pain fades early on, and complete healing usually takes about six months.

It depends on the procedure. After All-on-4, usually 4 to 7 days is sufficient, and of all the full arch options it tends to need the least recovery time. After snap-in denture surgery, some patients return to work the following day and others wait a week or two. After a single tooth implant, many patients return the same day or the next day, though certain cases need more. After extractions for dentures, 4 to 7 days is usually enough. There is always a chance of bruising and swelling, and you will need to get used to eating and speaking with new teeth, so the longer you can take off, the better.

A soft liner is a cushion we place inside your denture while you heal. It fills in the spaces that open up as your mouth changes shape, so your denture fits and feels better.

It is common with immediate dentures. Your gums and jaws shrink down after extractions, which leaves a gap between your gums and your dentures. We place soft liners beneath the dentures to fill that gap, and the fit and feel come back.

It is different for every patient, and it takes practice and patience. Your mouth goes through significant changes over the 6 month healing phase. It gets easier over time, and we are here for you through the entire process.

They will be a new sensation, and it takes several days, sometimes a few weeks, to adjust to them.

Yes. Your implants and new teeth are securely in place immediately. We do ask you to keep to a softer diet during the four month healing period. A good general rule is that you can eat anything you can cut with a plastic fork. We ask this because you are investing in a treatment that can last several decades, possibly the rest of your life, and a softer diet early on gives your implants the best integration into your bone and the best long-term outcome.

Not instantly. Just as you would need practice to get used to a prosthetic leg, prosthetic teeth take patience and practice. All-on-4 teeth are the easiest of our options to get comfortable with, because they are rigidly attached to your jaw. Implant dentures come next, since implants hold them in place. Conventional dentures take the most practice, and practice and patience are the keys to improving as fast as possible.

It takes some time, but with practice and patience your mouth and tongue adjust quickly. S sounds will be the toughest to pronounce. Practicing words like Mississippi, sixty-six, sarcastic, seventy-seven, and stupendous will help you get accustomed. In a few cases patients keep a small lisp long term, and that can happen with upper All-on-4 teeth, with implant dentures, and with conventional dentures.

Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew small bites, and chew with food on both sides of your mouth to even out your bite.

Absolutely not. It is one of the most common fears patients bring in, that everyone will know instantly. We design your smile carefully so you do not end up with horse teeth or chiclets. You get beautiful, natural-looking teeth, and no one will know.

Denture fit largely depends on the anatomy of the person wearing them. Full top dentures tend to fit relatively well, acting as a suction cup against the roof of your mouth. Full bottom dentures are known to feel loose and to float, because your cheeks and tongue are constantly working to dislodge them. That is exactly why we strongly encourage dental implants with lower dentures.

Yes. Lower dentures are more difficult to function with than upper dentures. Your tongue and cheeks push and pull on the lower denture and dislodge it. Speak with Dr. Thompson about whether you are a candidate for lower implants. They help tremendously with lower denture fit and function.

Yes. The palate of a full upper denture covers the taste buds on the roof of your mouth, which reduces your taste sensitivity.

With conventional dentures it is possible. Dental implants provide the stability that dentures alone are missing, and denture adhesive can also be useful for some patients. With snap-in dentures, some patients experience a slight amount of rocking. If you have two bottom implants they must be placed toward the front of the jaw, which makes some rocking possible, and a dab of adhesive at the back on each side of the lower denture will usually correct it.

No. They are rigidly attached to your dental implants, which are firmly anchored in your jaw. If your new teeth ever begin rocking, call us so we can bring you in for an exam.

Yes. Any dental prosthetic collects some amount of food underneath it. With All-on-4 you rinse with water to clear food from under your bridges, and cleaning daily with a water flosser becomes part of your long-term routine. With dentures and implant dentures it is simpler: take them out, clean the dentures and your gums, and put them back in.

No, you cannot remove them yourself. Only the dentist can. They are secured to your dental implants.

Yes, and that makes cleaning extremely convenient. Take them out, clean the dentures, your gums, and your implants, then snap them back in place.

Yes, these are removable. They come in and out of the mouth and stay secure either by natural suction for the upper or by denture adhesive. Not every patient gets natural suction on the upper, for a number of reasons including a palatal torus, a flat palate, or bone loss.

No. Once your implant is completed, you will not be able to remove it.

In your mouth they look almost identical to natural teeth. The implant body, the screw, is never visible; it sits under the gums in the bone. It will feel different from a natural tooth, but it will function the same.

With a conventional denture, the majority of the palate needs to remain. Removing it takes away a great deal of stability and nearly all of your natural suction. A portion of the palate can sometimes be removed for patients who have denture implants. If you want the palate gone for certain, All-on-4 is your best bet, since not all snap-in dentures can have it removed.

It depends. Ideally we need to spread the dental implants out in order to remove a portion of the palate. With All-on-4 we can guarantee the ability to remove the palate, but that is not always the case with snap-in dentures. When we can remove it, many patients taste more and feel temperature more, which makes for a more natural experience, and it can also relieve a strong gag reflex.

If you are a candidate for a palate-less denture, it is removed from your final denture. That happens after healing and osseointegration are complete and we are ready to attach to your implants, usually 4 to 6 months after your implants are placed.

Yes, and there are a few causes. High pressure spots are common with new dentures and usually need only small adjustments. Movement of the denture rubs sores onto the gums gradually, and stabilizing the denture with implants greatly reduces it. And dentures are foreign to the body; they are a wonderful replacement for missing teeth, but they can still irritate after a long day, so schedule time to take them out and give your gums a chance to rest.

Maintaining them is easy. Staying consistent is what matters. Brush your bridges with a soft bristle toothbrush and clean beneath them with a water flosser a few times a day. A few minutes daily is all it takes to keep your mouth and implants healthy. Cigarette smoking can increase the possibility of implant problems, so we recommend not smoking with dental implants. Diabetics should also be aware of a heightened risk, and keeping diabetes under control is paramount for long-term success. Beyond that, follow through with Dr. Thompson consistently through the year for quick examinations of your new implant teeth.

Care for it like a natural tooth. Floss and brush twice a day, and get cleanings regularly at the intervals your dentist recommends.

Plan to visit us every six months to have your teeth examined and cleaned. Doing that helps ensure the longevity of your new implants and teeth.

Wait 6 weeks after the procedure before you begin cleaning with a water flosser.

Clean them daily with antibacterial hand soap or denture cleaner, using either a denture brush or a very soft bristled toothbrush, and scrub them at least once a day. Store them in water when they are not in use. You can also soak them in a denture cleanser, and an ultrasonic cleaner works well.

Yes. We recommend removing your dentures before sleeping, and whenever else you can during the day. It gives your gums time to relax and get natural, cleansing saliva flow. And if you grind your teeth, taking your dentures out will increase their usable life significantly.

No. Do not boil your dentures. The heat can warp them, and if that happens you will have to replace them.

Yes. Dentures are made from acrylic teeth on an acrylic base. Those materials are very strong, but they can be damaged. Be careful not to drop them, especially onto hard surfaces like porcelain sinks and tile floors. One of the most frequent ways dentures get damaged beyond repair is a dog, or sometimes a cat, getting hold of them. Pets enjoy chewing on dentures and can ruin them quite fast, so put yours up where your pet cannot reach.

In many cases, yes. One of the best features of acrylic dentures is how affordable and straightforward they are to repair compared to other materials. Your office will walk you through the repair options and timing.

Yes. Your temporary teeth are made from acrylic and they can chip, crack, and sometimes break. This is very common. The great thing about the acrylic temporary is that it is easily repaired. If you have any issue with yours, call our office and we will get you fixed up right away.

It is possible, but very rare. Zirconia and nano-ceramic are among the strongest and most durable materials available in the dental world.

Four things. Snaps: the snap rings wear and lose retention over time as you take your teeth in and out, and they are quick and affordable to change. Cleanings: like natural teeth, your implants need professional cleaning periodically, with all buildup removed and the dentures cleaned. Periodic re-fittings: your mouth still changes over time, so your dentures get re-fitted to keep them performing well and to keep unnecessary stress off the implants. Home maintenance: a few minutes a day. Take your dentures out once or twice a day, brush them with a denture brush or a very soft bristled toothbrush, and scrub your implants with a very soft dental brush too.

Usually 1 to 2 times each year. It depends on how many implants you have, the strength of your bite, how often you remove and replace your dentures, and several other factors. One important warning: never bite your dentures into place on your implants. That wears the inserts down much faster. Place your implant dentures in by hand only.

New dentures always have certain spots that rub slightly and create sore spots. During an adjustment we target the spots that are bothering you, decrease the pressure they apply to your gums, and smooth them thoroughly. This is completely normal with all new dentures, and one or more adjustments should be expected.

Adjustments are free for the first 6 months after you receive your final teeth or your permanent hard reline. After that time, there is a small fee to adjust the dentures.

Your price depends on your mouth, so we put it in writing after Dr. Thompson examines you, and that consultation is free. Our cost page walks through what determines your price and what is always included.

We offer the All-on-4 procedure with a straightforward approach to your care. That includes removing any remaining teeth, placing your implants, providing same-day fixed temporary teeth, and crafting your final set of permanent zirconia teeth. Unlike many offices that separate charges for surgery, temporary teeth, and the final restoration, we believe in transparency. No surprises and no hidden fees, just a clear path to your new smile.

Yes. We offer flexible payment plans, and Dr. Thompson's office will walk you through the options and help you find one that works for you. We work with our patients in any way possible to get them smiling again.

If a dental implant fails to integrate, we replace it at no cost to you. We warranty the final dental bridge for 5 years. To keep that warranty, you return every 6 months for maintenance and hygiene of your bridges and implants. The warranty does not apply to patients who continue to use nicotine products, who have uncontrolled diabetes, or who develop other uncontrolled systemic conditions that compromise their implants.

Titanium dental implants have a success rate above 95 percent, but yes, they can still fail. The things that cause failure are failure to integrate into the bone, smoking, and diabetes. If your implant fails within the first year, your dentist will replace it at no cost to you.

Volume and focus. Because of the high number of these procedures we perform, and because we limit our practice exclusively to them, we have advantages other offices simply do not. A single dentist oversees the entire procedure, which helps keep pricing competitive while we still use high-quality dental implants and zirconia teeth. See our best price guarantee.

We limit our practice to dental implants and prosthetics. Dental implants, and especially teeth in a day, are our passion, and our team works constantly to make sure patients get the best possible results. Other dental practices refer you to other providers and quote confusing pricing. They can take several months or even years to complete the procedure while charging up to double what we do. Dr. Thompson performs the full procedure, from surgery to final teeth, with clear pricing and a plan under one roof.

We have the same focus many national implant offices advertise: we limit our practice to dental implants and prosthetics, our pricing is competitive, and we offer teeth the same day when your case allows it. The difference is that we are privately owned, and every patient is seen exclusively by our doctor. Our team focuses on patient satisfaction instead of cost cutting, shareholders, and monthly quotas. Dr. Thompson oversees your procedure from beginning to end, and the team will do everything it can to make sure you are overjoyed with your new smile. Read what patients say on our reviews page.

It is a good service for some patients, but in the rare case of a complication or a broken tooth it can be very difficult to repair when you traveled thousands of miles away or out of the country, and most local practices will not repair another dentist's work. There is also a real advantage to having a temporary set of fixed teeth on procedure day: you get to test them out and learn what you like and do not like. For your final zirconia or nano-ceramic teeth we can offer try-ins so they look exactly the way you want. Getting final teeth immediately can be exciting, but it comes with downsides that cannot be ignored.

Our team does everything possible to make sure you are thrilled with your new smile. The teeth you receive on the day of your procedure are only a temporary, transitional set. When we fabricate your final teeth, you have complete control of their design and appearance.

We work with referring dentists in our area. Send us the details through our dental referral page and we will take it from there.