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Frequently Asked Questions

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It's difficult to definitively say which is better between implants and bridges. The choice depends on your oral condition. If the adjacent teeth on both sides of the missing tooth are healthy and cavity-free, placing an implant is generally recommended. However, if the adjacent teeth already have crowns or bridges, or if they have cavities requiring additional treatment, a bridge may be considered. Additionally, if the bone condition is poor and may cause food impaction or discomfort after implant placement, a bridge might be recommended depending on the situation.
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Dental implants were initially introduced as foreign-made products, and since the mid-2000s, domestic brands have established themselves, now forming the mainstream. Even with domestic brands alone, there are dozens of types, so rather than specifying a brand yourself, we recommend carefully reviewing the clinic and the dentist's experience and trusting their choice. It's difficult for the general public to judge superiority based solely on brand names. Instead of relying only on advertising or brand recognition, it's best to follow the product your dentist selects based on your condition. Among foreign brands, there are internationally recognized top-tier brands, so if you prefer foreign-made, check if it's such a brand before choosing. It's difficult to simply say "foreign is better than domestic," and please note that choosing foreign brands may result in higher treatment costs.
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Dental implants can withstand chewing forces similar to or even greater than natural teeth. However, their structure is different. Natural teeth have a periodontal ligament around the root that allows slight movement, while implants are directly integrated with the bone and have minimal movement. As a result, the subtle compression sensation when biting down firmly that you feel with natural teeth may be less noticeable with implants. Most people don't notice much difference with one or two implants, and even if one entire side consists of implants, most patients adapt after 6 months to a year of use, so there's no need for excessive concern.
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Dental implant surgery involves fixing a titanium fixture into the jawbone. Bone tissue has dull pain perception, so the process of working on the bone itself often doesn't cause significant pain. The pain is mainly felt when incising or manipulating the gum tissue - during gum inflammation removal or when trimming the gums during bone grafting. Nowadays, minimally invasive implant techniques that minimize gum manipulation during placement are widely used and actively researched. With such methods, pain is often 1/3 to 1/4 of what you'd experience during tooth extraction. You can think of it as "implant placement hurts less than having your own tooth pulled."
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If you neglect maintenance, inflammation can develop around the implant. This presents symptoms similar to periodontitis in natural teeth, called peri-implantitis. If such inflammation occurs, it's important to receive active treatment. If you maintain good care and have no surrounding inflammation, the fixture (the screw-shaped root portion embedded in the bone) can essentially be used semi-permanently. However, the crown (the tooth head portion) on top receives chewing forces externally, so after 10-15 years of use, wear and deformation can occur, and replacement is typically recommended every 15 years. Additionally, for those with very strong bite forces, the titanium fixture or abutment connection may occasionally fracture or become loose. This is a mechanical phenomenon that's difficult to predict, but if you choose a clinic that can handle such situations appropriately, you can manage it without major issues.
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All-on-X treatment is possible regardless of age as long as bone condition can be confirmed via CT scan. It's often feasible even for patients around 90 years old. All-on-X uses a minimally invasive approach - it doesn't require wide gum incisions but instead uses surgical guides to drill small holes for placement, making it actually advantageous for elderly patients. As long as there are no issues with medical history or systemic diseases, there are no age restrictions.
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Since All-on-X is a fixed prosthesis with everything connected, it's difficult to use dental floss. Food particles stuck under the prosthesis can be removed with a waterpik or similar device, then brush as usual. The gaps between implants are designed to allow interdental brushes, so if you thoroughly clean those areas with interdental brushes down to the base, you can maintain them clean and use them for a long time.
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All-on-X typically refers to 4-6 implant placement, but considering Korean dietary habits, supporting everything with just 4 implants may be somewhat burdensome, so 6 implants are most commonly used. In some cases, 8 implants are placed, and with 8, they can be made in 3 separate parts rather than one solid piece. The final form is best left to the medical team's judgment.
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Denture implants use magnets or clips on top of implants to allow removable dentures. All-on-X is not a denture but a fixed prosthesis that stays in your mouth and is not removable. In essence, the key difference is that dentures are removable while All-on-X is fixed.
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Since a pre-made prosthesis is attached immediately after surgery, eating is possible from the day of surgery. However, on the surgery day, bleeding may occur, so soft foods or liquids are recommended, and lukewarm rather than hot foods are preferred. After bleeding stabilizes, you can eat various foods. Since everything is new prosthetics, we recommend eating soft foods for 2-3 days to get used to the bite, then gradually progressing to harder foods - most patients adapt well.

Q&A Board

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Implants vs Bridges: Which is better?

Domestic vs Foreign Implants: How do I choose among so many brands?

Does an implant feel similar to a natural tooth?

Is implant surgery very painful?

Do implants need to be replaced periodically?

Can All-on-X treatment be performed at an advanced age?

How should I maintain oral hygiene with All-on-X?

How many implants are needed to replace all teeth?

What's the difference between denture implants and All-on-X?

How do I eat after All-on-X surgery?