Implant dentistry has now fully embraced the “full arch” implant solution as arguably the most direct path to replacing terminal dentition. But clinicians beware! Success is ultimately defined by patient satisfaction and acceptance, not the technology deployed. Unsatisfied patients can become a practice’s biggest liability. Post treatment complaints can include speech impairment, occlusal discrepancy, esthetics, and lip support. This lecture will identify the challenges and complications that many clinicians will face in their journey to becoming a competent and effective full arch implant provider and provide solutions to avoid these obstacles. The following themes will set the foundation for improving clinical proficiency and patient satisfaction.
After completing this course, the reader should be able to:
- Explain critical diagnostic requirements for full arch
- Define a patient’s most exacting treatment objectives
- Identify limitations and advantages of the Full Arch prosthetic design
- Describe how pre-treatment smile design eliminates post-treatment dissatisfaction
- Improve the patient experience
- Recognize prosthetic determinants and their role in lab communication
