Most people researching full arch replacement already know what they want the outcome to look like. What slows the decision down is a different set of questions: what does the actual path look like, what will happen at each appointment, and whether a case like mine realistically leads anywhere? Those concerns account for more delayed consultations than cost ever does.
At Seattle Smiles Company, a state-of-the-art dental clinic in downtown Seattle, the process is built to answer those questions from the very first conversation. As a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and one of fewer than 1% of dentists worldwide recognized as a fellow of the American College of Dentists, our dentist brings advanced implant training and extensive hospital-based surgical experience directly to patients considering full-arch replacement. For patients ready to move from wondering to planning, the overview below walks through each stage.
What Happens Before Surgery Is Scheduled
Every full arch case starts with information gathering, not scheduling. The goal of the pre-surgical phase is to build a complete picture of your jaw structure, bone volume, and oral health before any treatment decisions are made.
The Free 3D CT Evaluation
Every patient considering full arch replacement at Seattle Smiles Company receives a complimentary 3D CT evaluation. This produces a precise, three-dimensional view of your jaw, bone density, and surrounding anatomy. That level of detail is the foundation of accurate treatment planning, and we offer it at no cost because real decisions should start with complete information.
Digital Scanning and Treatment Planning
After the CT, our team completes your digital scans, replacing the old tray-based process that patients often find uncomfortable. These digital records feed directly into your personalized treatment plan, mapping out implant count, positioning, and what your final restoration will look like before a surgical appointment is ever booked. Research published in MMM, which followed 20 patients through 160 full-arch implant placements, found that patients who underwent this type of comprehensive pre-surgical planning reported significantly improved quality of life after treatment.
The Surgical Phase
This is the stage at which most patients have the most questions, and that is completely understandable. Two aspects of Seattle Smiles Company’s approach to this phase set it apart from most dental offices in the area.
Sedation Options That Change the Experience
Seattle Smiles Company is one of the few dental offices in Seattle that offer IV sedation and general anesthesia administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), not by a standard dental assistant following a sedation protocol. Our CRNA manages anesthesia from start to finish, so our dentist focuses entirely on the surgical work while a dedicated anesthesia professional monitors your care throughout the procedure. Patients who have put off treatment due to anxiety consistently find that this arrangement changes the conversation.
Implant Placement
The number of implants placed per arch depends on your anatomy, bone structure, and individualized treatment plan. Our dentist completed two residencies at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health, one of the most respected advanced training programs in implant dentistry globally, along with substantial hospital-based surgical experience managing complex medical cases. That background directly informs how each case is planned and how placement decisions are made. Because each surgical appointment follows a 3D-guided plan based on your specific imaging, we are often able to deliver a provisional set of teeth on the same day as surgery.
From Provisional to Permanent Restoration
For many of our full arch patients, surgery day ends with a provisional set of fixed teeth in place, not a removable appliance sent home in a bag. Same-day teeth are not the final restoration, but they are functional and fixed, meaning you leave with working teeth and do not spend months without them during the healing phase.
The materials selected for your permanent restoration carry real clinical significance. Several factors determine both durability and long-term function:
- Implant grade and brand, matched to the specific anatomy of your jaw
- Prosthetic components connecting the implants to the final restoration
- Permanent restoration material, typically milled zirconia, chosen for its resistance to long-term chewing forces
We use the best materials available today for implant procedures, prosthetic components, and ceramics, because the goal is a result that lasts, not one that looks good briefly and requires replacement. Every case is built with long-term performance in mind.
The Final Restoration Appointment
After a healing period, you return for your permanent restoration appointment. The final prosthesis is fabricated from your precise digital records, fitted, and delivered. From that point, maintenance mirrors the routine of natural teeth, and our personal concierge service remains available throughout your care for any questions that come up along the way.
Schedule Your Free Consultation at Seattle Smiles Company
Seattle Smiles Company brings fellowship-level implant credentials, two completed residencies at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and an in-house CRNA anesthesia team to every full-arch case. We offer same-day teeth capability, complimentary 3D CT evaluations, free consultations, and flexible financing options, including Sunbit, Alphaeon Credit, Proceed Finance, Scratch Pay, CareCredit, and our own in-house plan with no credit check required. We also see patients who have been told elsewhere that implants are not an option for them, even though in many of those cases, there are paths forward that have not yet been explored.
If you are considering full-arch replacement and want to understand exactly what your situation requires, reach out via our contact form to schedule your complimentary consultation.