Full-Arch Dental Implant Services Available in Rochester, NY

Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester
Apr 1
3 min read

Full-Arch Dental Implant Services

Rochester, NY, dental implant specialists, like prosthodontists and dentists who focus on dental implant services, provide a variety of comprehensive care ranging from replacing a single missing tooth to full-arch dental implant solutions. This article focuses on one type of dental implant procedure that seems to be particularly confusing because of the many terms and names used to describe it—Full-Arch Dental Implants.

What are Full-Arch Dental Implants?

Realistic illustration of full-arch dental implants

Full-arch dental implants are a permanent, fixed solution to replacing an entire row of upper or lower teeth. They provide superior stability over traditional dentures and eliminate the need for removal to clean them, and adhesives to keep them in place.

But, patients looking for a full arch of permanent dental implants or permanent dentures often become confused when searching online—most often using Google. If this describes your experience, you’re not alone. Here are some common terms that relate to full-arch dental implants. Some terms refer to the same thing, but are called something different, depending on the implant specialist or location of the country that you live in. Some terms are similar in nature but differ in subtle ways, and some have registered trademarks because of unique variations of the methods used.

1. Terms that are Interchangeable with Full-Arch Implants

Fixed Dentures

This is another term for Full-Arch Dental Implants which permanently replaces a full upper or lower arch of teeth with a fixed, implant-supported prosthesis instead of removable dentures.

Full-Arch Restoration

This term has the same functional goal of full-arch dental implants—to permanently replace an entire upper or lower row of teeth using a fixed, implant-supported prosthesis, rather than using traditional removable dentures.

Full-Mouth Dental Implants

This term is basically the same as Full-Arch Dental Implants and may be used to describe getting implants on both upper and lower arches. Similar names used are full arch restoration and permanent dentures.

Fixed Hybrid Denture

This is a general term for any non-removable, implant-supported prosthesis usually screwed into dental implants.

Dental Implant Fixed Arch Bridge

This term is another way of describing Full-Arch or Full-Mouth dental implants. It describes replacing a full arch or full set of teeth with a non-removable, screw-retained prosthesis.

Realistic illustration of Overdentures, also known as implant dentures.

2. Implant-Supported Dentures (Overdentures) – Not the Same as Full-Arch Implants

Implant-supported dentures differ from full-arch dental implants because they are removable and designed to snap securely onto implants for easy removal by the patient. Implant Dentures is another term used, as is Implant-Retained Dentures. The term ‘Overdentures’ is more commonly used in the professional implant industry. This type of implant uses 4–8 dental implants to secure it to the jawbone. Unlike traditional, removable dentures that rely on adhesive, the implants are a much more stable and permanent solution for patients missing most or all their teeth.

To make matters even more confusing, these are not the only terms used for Implant-Supported Dentures. Add to the list: fixed dentures, permanent dentures, snap-in dentures, snap-on dentures, or click-in dentures.

3. Similar Models are Branded and Specialized

There are several proprietary types of dental implant methods in the Rochester, NY, area that offer a similar model to standard Full-Arch Dental Implants, but they are branded and trademarked. This is because they use specific, proprietary methods and/or systems to provide fixed, full-arch dental implant solutions.