How Long Does Full-Arch Implant Treatment Take?

Lee Jang-uk, Head Director

Hello.

A place that does its utmost

for a healthy smile

Etual de Seoul Dental Clinic.

Hello, I’m Dr. Lee Jang-uk of Etual de Seoul Dental Clinic, always thinking about how to help you smile brighter.

Today, I have a story I really want to share with you. Many people are curious about how long full-arch implant treatment takes, and rather than simply giving medical information, I’d like to share it through the moving story of one patient who actually received this treatment.

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" Full-arch implant treatment period"

Let me tell you the story of Mr. Kim Young-soo (pseudonym, 67). When he first came to our clinic, he was in tears and said, "Doctor, I really think this is the end for me. I can’t even eat properly, and I’m scared to smile."

Mr. Young-soo had lost a lot of jawbone from long-term denture use. He said that putting in his dentures every morning was not the start of the day, but the start of pain. "Whenever my grandson asked me to hold him, I had to keep my mouth tightly closed because I was afraid my dentures would come out. I still remember how frightening I must have looked to him as his grandfather," he said, his voice breaking.

His wife said, "My husband used to be full of humor and laughter filled the house, but now he speaks less and seems depressed all the time," and she teared up with him. How heartbreaking must it have been for the family to see their husband keep refusing food, saying, "It’s fine, I don’t have to eat," even when they made delicious meals for him.

For Mr. Young-soo, I explained the full-arch implant treatment period and process in detail. When I told him, "Using 4 to 6 implants, we can expect improved function for the entire set of teeth, and by placing a temporary prosthesis on the day of surgery, it may help you return to daily life," he looked hopeful for the first time.

I still remember how carefully he asked, "So the treatment process is expected to take about 30 days, roughly?" After I explained that a flapless approach using 3D navigation may help reduce pain, and that implants could be placed at a special angle even without bone grafting, he was amazed and said, "So there was a method like this."

On the day of surgery, Mr. Young-soo came early in the morning and said, "Doctor, I’m really nervous. But I think this is my last chance." After about two hours of surgery and once the temporary prosthesis was attached, he looked in the mirror and said, "Oh my, is this really my mouth?" in complete surprise.

But the real moving moment came after that. He called the next day after surgery and said, "Doctor, I slept really well for the first time in a long while last night. I don’t even remember when I last had such a comfortable sleep because my mouth wasn’t uncomfortable." That really moved me too.

When he came back a week later for a checkup, he seemed like a completely different person. "Doctor, yesterday I played with my grandson, and I laughed freely without worrying about anything. He said, ‘Grandpa, your voice sounds louder now,’" he said with a bright smile, and that made me happy too.

The biggest change during the full-arch implant treatment period appeared in the second week. "Doctor, yesterday I went out to eat with my wife for the first time in a while. I ate steak and corn... My wife even cried. She said, ‘Honey, you’re finally like your old self again.’" As he said that, tears welled up in Mr. Young-soo’s eyes too.

On the day a final prosthesis was attached a month later, his family all came together. His wife said, "Thanks to you, Doctor, my husband has come back to life. These days, he hums all the time," and his grandson innocently said, "Grandpa doesn’t make a scary face anymore!" which filled the treatment room with laughter.

I sometimes get questions like this.

"Doctor, is it really not painful?" To be honest, a flapless approach using 3D navigation may help reduce pain, but more important than that, I think, is emotional healing. The hope of escaping long-term pain and the expectation of being able to spend happy time with family again are enough to help overcome small discomforts.

Many people also ask, "Is it okay even if you’re older?" In fact, it is an even more suitable treatment for older adults. For those who find it difficult to visit multiple times, one surgery can be expected to improve the function of the entire set of teeth. Even if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is possible in most cases as long as it is well controlled.

Even today, I feel rewarded by witnessing these miraculous changes. Every time, I see that one month of full-arch implant treatment can greatly change a person’s life. With proper care, it can be used for a long time, and regular maintenance helps keep it in good condition for an extended period.

Do you think it’s too late?

If you or a family member are struggling with dentures right now, please don’t think it’s too late. Just like Mr. Young-soo, just like Ms. Mi-kyung, a new beginning is always possible. That one-month treatment process can greatly change the rest of your life.

Soon, you too will be smiling brightly while enjoying delicious food with your family. I would like to help make that moment happen together.

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