Check Before Proceeding with Full-Mouth Gangnam Implants

Chief Director Lee Jang-wook

We always support your dental health.

This is Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic.

Today, I’d like to talk about full-mouth restoration with Gangnam implants, which many people are interested in.

If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have been putting up with discomfort for a long time because of loose or missing teeth, or that you are using dentures and feeling both uneasy and frustrated.

I often see in the clinic people who feel discomfort every time they chew, and who have had experiences where they could not smile freely because they were worried their dentures might come out. Some people also hesitate because they wonder whether implants are even possible at their age.

I completely understand the feeling of still wavering without having made a treatment decision.

I am starting this article with the hope that it will be of some practical help in resolving those concerns.

What should be checked before proceeding, A story of a patient I met in the clinic

Among patients who have used dentures for a long time, many experience the inconvenience of the denture moving and irritating the gums every time they chew. When the jawbone has been significantly resorbed, the stability of dentures decreases even more, and this can lead to situations where they cannot eat the foods they like as freely as before.

Questions such as, “Can I still get implants at this age?” and “Can treatment be done even though I’ve lost so much bone?” are also among the most common concerns I hear in the clinic. Most people who become interested in full-mouth Gangnam implant restoration have endured these inconveniences for a long time.

Through treatment, I am repeatedly reminded that a problem with even one tooth can affect daily life as a whole, from meals and speech to facial expressions. Feelings mixed with fear of treatment and concerns about age are never something to take lightly, and I believe it is important to first accurately understand the current condition and then work together step by step to find the right direction.

What is full-mouth restoration? Full-mouth restoration is a treatment that restores all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw with implants.

It is often called a “full-arch implant” and is not a method that replaces all 28 teeth with individual implants. Instead, the entire arch is supported by only 4 to 6 implants. To use a building analogy, it is similar to a small number of strategically placed columns firmly supporting the entire structure rather than dozens of columns.

It is considered for cases where most teeth have been lost and the patient is edentulous, when the jawbone has been significantly resorbed after long-term denture use, or when the condition of most teeth is no longer maintainable. Unlike implant-supported dentures, the prosthesis is firmly fixed in the mouth and does not move at all, which may help make daily meals more comfortable.

In terms of cost, it can also be more economical compared with replacing all teeth with individual implants. However, because each person’s oral condition is different, not everyone is a candidate for the same treatment, and confirmation through a precise examination must come first.

Can treatment still be done if there is not enough jawbone? Many people may have heard the statement, “If there is no bone, implants cannot be done.” In full-mouth Gangnam implant restoration, we first precisely assess the condition of the jawbone and the location of the remaining bone using 3D CT imaging and an oral scanner, and then we apply a method of placing the implants at different angles in areas where enough bone remains.

In some cases, this makes it possible to proceed without bone grafting. Even when the jawbone has been significantly resorbed after long-term denture use, treatment direction can sometimes be discussed depending on the results of a 3D navigation diagnosis that checks the distribution and density of the remaining bone.

Because not everyone has the same condition, an individual diagnosis through a precise examination is the most important thing.

The treatment is broadly carried out in four stages. First, a precise examination and consultation are performed, including CT imaging and an oral scan. Then, computer simulation surgery is used to plan the implant positions, angles, and prosthesis design in advance. In the third stage, the implants are placed and a temporary prosthesis is fitted on the same day so that the patient does not have to remain without teeth.

Finally, depending on the progress, the final prosthesis made of zirconia and pink porcelain is fitted. Zirconia offers aesthetic improvements with colors and translucency similar to natural teeth, and pink porcelain recreates the appearance of natural gums to create a more natural smile.

If a patient has a systemic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, the process of confirming that the condition is well controlled must come first, and for smokers, quitting before and after treatment is recommended.

Ongoing care after treatment is also important Ongoing care after full-mouth Gangnam implant restoration is just as important as the treatment itself for maintaining implants over the long term. Implant prostheses, like natural teeth, must be brushed properly every day, and it is necessary to carefully clean between the prosthetic parts with dental floss or interdental brushes.

During the temporary prosthesis period, it is best to avoid hard or chewy foods, and after the final prosthesis is fitted, the condition changes so that most foods can be eaten more comfortably.

Developing the habit of having regular checkups every six months to inspect the prosthesis and the health of the surrounding gums helps maintain the implants in good condition over the long term. At Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic, we carefully provide each patient with customized care instructions that fit their oral condition and lifestyle even after treatment.

With attentive care, implants can remain with you for a long time.

A word I’d like to share as the director

After graduating from the Graduate School of Dentistry at Seoul National University and continuing my implant practice, I have directly felt through countless patients how much daily life changes only after losing teeth. In the clinic, I experience every day how deeply connected quality of life is to the pleasure of chewing, the confidence of speaking clearly, and even the simple expression of smiling naturally in front of a mirror.

I believe that full-mouth Gangnam implant restoration is not simply a treatment that fills in missing teeth, but a process that can help restore the comfort of daily life that has been lost for a long time. I completely understand the fear and uncertainty you may feel before treatment. If there is a concern you have kept in your heart for a long time, I believe it is important to first understand your current condition through a precise examination.

Director Lee Jang-wook of Etoile de Seoul Dental Clinic will sincerely consider the treatment direction that suits each patient’s situation and condition.

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