Prosthetics After Implants in Ogeum-dong: Occlusion and Facial Balance Matter Too

Hello.

I am Dr. Ho-yeon Seo of Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic, where compassionate and moving care come together.

In my previous post, I explained how a patient who had been using dentures for a long time planned implant placement through digitally guided implant surgery.

If you have not yet read the previous post, checking the link below first may help you understand today’s content.

(November 10, 2025)

When dentures are used for a long time, the position where the upper and lower teeth meet may change, and the support provided to the lips may also decrease.

As a result, the area around the mouth may appear sunken, and changes may also appear in the side profile of the face.

Therefore, when undergoing full-mouth implant treatment, as in this patient’s case, how the prostheses to be placed on top of the implants are made is just as important as placing the implants themselves.

After the implants are placed, the final prostheses are not attached immediately. Instead, a recovery period is allowed to pass.

This is because time is needed for the implants to become sufficiently established in the jawbone.

This patient also had a recovery period of approximately three months after implant placement.

After reviewing the progress of the recovery, second-stage surgery was performed on April 20, 2026.

(April 20, 2026)

What Is Second-Stage Implant Surgery?

Ogeum-dong Implant Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

Second-stage surgery is the step that makes it possible to connect implants settled beneath the gums to the prostheses.

Simply put, if implant placement is the process of creating the part that serves as the tooth root,

second-stage surgery is the step of preparing the connection area so that tooth-shaped prostheses can be placed on top.

Even after second-stage surgery, the final prostheses are not attached immediately.

First, temporary teeth are made and used while several criteria are evaluated.

The temporary-tooth stage is important because it allows us to directly assess the feeling of chewing in everyday life, the height of the teeth, and the degree of support provided to the lips.

In particular, with full-mouth implants, the height and position of the entire set of teeth can affect the impression of the face, the shape of the lips, comfort while speaking, and even the direction in which force is transmitted when chewing.

Therefore, before making the final prostheses, I first check the occlusion, facial appearance, and actual usability while the temporary teeth are being used.

(May 21, 2026)

The photo above shows the process of checking the position of the front teeth, the dental midline, and how the upper and lower teeth meet while the temporary teeth are in place.

At this stage, we can check whether the upper and lower teeth meet without strain and whether the occlusal plane appears tilted to one side.

We also use instruments, as shown in the photos, to check the reference points of the face together.

This process involves considering the proportions of the facial length and the area around the mouth to see whether the height of the current temporary teeth suits the patient’s face.

Of course, these measurements are not an answer in themselves.

They are reference materials used to determine the tooth height and position that are appropriate for the patient.

In full-mouth prosthetic treatment especially, how naturally the lips are supported in the side profile is also an important criterion.

When a person has been without teeth for a long time or has used old dentures for many years, the upper teeth and gum area may not provide sufficient support to the lips, making the area around the mouth appear sunken inward.

Therefore, before making the final prostheses, we need to check not only the position and height of the prostheses but also the degree of support provided to the lips.

While checking the side profile as shown in the photo, we examine whether the lips appear excessively drawn inward and whether the position of the front teeth suits the overall balance of the face.

At this stage, we may also consider the nasolabial angle and the degree of lip support.

Of course, the position of the final prostheses is not determined by these factors alone.

We adjust the position of the final prostheses while also considering the patient’s facial shape, lip thickness, and existing occlusal condition.

In this way, before making the final prostheses, we check various criteria while the temporary teeth are in use,

make any necessary adjustments, and then move on to the final prosthetic stage.

(June 12, 2026)

The panoramic image shows the final prostheses connected to the implants.

The patient has since been attending regular follow-up appointments and has been using the prostheses without any major problems to date.

The discomfort experienced while eating has also decreased significantly, and the patient was satisfied with the treatment results.

Full-mouth implant treatment involves multiple stages.

Ogeum-dong Implant Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

Therefore, rather than completing treatment as quickly as possible, I believe it is more important not to overlook the criteria that need to be checked at each stage.

Although the treatment period may become somewhat longer, checking each step carefully so that patients can experience less discomfort and use their teeth comfortably in daily life after treatment is an important aspect of my approach to full-mouth implant treatment.

Through these two posts, I have explained the treatment process from dentures to full-mouth implants,

as well as the criteria that need to be checked along the way.

I hope today’s post has helped those considering full-mouth implants better understand the treatment process.

Thank you for reading this long post.

I hope you have a wonderful day. ^^

Ogeum-dong Implant Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

Ogeum-dong Implant Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

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Ogeum-dong Implant Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic