Glimpse at a Full-Arch Dental Implant Team

Prosthodontist (or restorative lead: prosthodontist or experienced general dentist)

Primary responsibilities:

• Leads the restorative plan (smile design, bite/occlusion, vertical dimension) and the digital workflow: merging CBCT with intraoral scans and designing stackable guides so surgery follows the plan (“restoratively driven”).

• Coordinates day-of “conversion” with the surgeon and lab so the same-day fixed provisional matches the digital plan.

Why is matters for patients:

Good restorative leadership reduces chairside adjustments because the outcome tracks the pre-planned design.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS) or Periodontist (surgical lead)

Primary responsibilities:

• Performs extractions, bone reduction, and implant placement—often using stackable guides for accuracy and efficiency.

• Confirms primary stability and cross-arch support to allow immediate loading when appropriate; selects number/position/angulation (including tilted implants) to control cantilevers.

• Provides IV/deep sedation or works with an anesthesia provider under ADA standards.

Why it matters for patients:

A guided, restoratively driven approach streamlines surgery and supports "teeth-in-a-day" when stability criteria are met.

Dental laboratory technician / CAD-CAM designer (often a CDT)

Primary responsibilities:

• Designs and fabricates the interim and final prostheses, prints/mills the guides, and assists with the day-of conversion to preserve the planned bite.

Why it matters for patients:

Close lab collaboration makes same-day fixed delivery more predictable and reduces later adjustments.

Dental anesthesiologist or sedation-trained clinician

Primary responsibilities:

• Delivers and monitors minimal → deep sedation or general anesthesia as indicated, following ADA training/monitoring protocols.

Why it matters for patients:

Sedation can make long procedures more comfortable and efficient—safety depends on proper training and monitoring.

Hygienist / maintenance team

Primary responsibilities:

• Runs structured recall for implant-specific hygiene, professional debridement, and home-care coaching per clinical practice guidelines.

• For retrievable full-arch designs (including screwless, shape-memory–retained options), removal/re-insertion can be efficient and preserve occlusion between visits.

Why it matters for patients:

Regular maintenance is strongly linked to long-term success of implant restorations.

Treatment coordinator & clinical assistants

Primary responsibilities:

• Orchestrate scheduling, finances, consent, and communication; support guide sequencing, torque checks, documentation, and post-op instructions.