Full-arch implants in Jeju: what should you check before a consultation?

Do all remaining teeth need removing?

First assess which teeth can be preserved and whether retaining them helps the overall plan. Teeth with movement, decay or inflammation do not all have the same outlook. Gum, root canal or restorative treatment may preserve some.

Extraction may be considered when repeated treatment is unlikely to provide useful stability or compromises the wider restoration. Each tooth’s outlook, the bite, time and care should inform an explanation of the reasons.

Is CT alone enough to complete the plan?

CT shows bone width, height, nerves and sinuses. Scans or models record the teeth and gums, while jaw relations, bite height, lip support and the smile also need assessment.

Facial photographs and temporary teeth can help evaluate intended tooth form and position. CT identifies bone; restoration planning identifies where teeth need to be. The two must be connected.

Are more implants always better?

Number depends on jawbone, arch shape, implant spread, restoration material and structure, opposing teeth and chewing forces. ITI guidance bases number and distribution on the final restoration, arch form and bone.

At Hyungje Dental, we generally consider six in the upper jaw and four in the lower jaw, with six lower implants where appropriate. The final number follows assessment and design.

Why design the final teeth before surgery?

The patient uses the teeth connected to the implants. Planning these first helps assess force distribution, length and bulk, lip support and cleaning access.

Placing implants only where bone is available can leave awkward screw openings or difficult cleaning. A digital guide can transfer the plan, but planning around the final teeth is the essential first step.

Can everyone receive temporary teeth on surgery day?

Fixed temporary teeth can support appearance and basic function during healing, but require sufficient initial stability and suitable implant distribution. Grafting, bone quality, forces, health and postoperative care also matter.

ITI guidance calls for checking each implant’s stability and careful assessment when extensive grafting or sinus surgery is needed.

• What conditions allow fixed temporary teeth?
• What happens if stability is insufficient during surgery?
• What foods and activities should be avoided with temporary teeth?
• When and on what criteria are the final teeth made?

Who coordinates surgery and the restoration?

Diagnosis, extraction, placement, temporary teeth, bite adjustment, fabrication and maintenance form a continuous course. Different people may contribute, but responsibility for explaining and checking the whole plan should be clear.

Ask who plans surgery and final teeth, where temporary teeth are adjusted, how the clinical and laboratory teams communicate and who assesses problems involving both surgery and restoration.

Is choosing zirconia enough?

Material matters, but the name alone does not establish quality. Thickness, connections, implant and screw positions, bite design, cleaning space and the response to damage affect long-term use.

Connected full-arch teeth receive forces across several implants. Concentrated loading, grinding and clenching need assessment. Ask how loose screws or damage would be investigated and managed.

Is maintenance planned from the beginning?

Implants do not develop tooth decay, but the gums can become inflamed and screws or materials can develop mechanical problems. EFP guidance emphasises prevention during planning and regular tissue assessment after the restoration is fitted.

• Bleeding and inflammation around implants
• Movement or fracture of the restoration and screws
• Changes in the bite
• Cleaning beneath the teeth
• Bone changes on X-rays when needed
• Cleaning aids the patient can actually use

Ask about review intervals, when removal by the dentist may be needed, and charges or criteria for repairs and replacement.

Which questions should you take to consultation?

Use these questions to understand the scope and reasons for the proposed treatment.

• Which remaining teeth can be saved?
• What alternatives to full-arch implants are available?
• What do CT and oral scans show about bone, gums and the bite?
• Why this implant number and distribution?
• Are positions planned from the final teeth?
• What conditions allow same-day temporary teeth, and what is the alternative?
• Who plans and adjusts surgery, temporary teeth and final teeth?
• Which stages are included in the quoted cost?
• How will reviews, repair and replacement be handled?

How does Hyungje Dental approach the plan?

We assess remaining teeth and gums first. If full-arch treatment is appropriate, CT and oral scans inform implant positions based on the final teeth and bite.

Dr. Soohyun Ko connects diagnosis, digital design, guided surgery and restoration planning. Temporary teeth are assessed for shape and bite; final options include five-axis-milled zirconia according to the case.

Bone, gums, medical health, cleaning ability and expectations determine the suitable method and its limitations.

Related articles

• Very few teeth left in Jeju: are dentures the only option? →
• Full-arch implant treatment →