Full Arch Dental Implants in Overland Park, KS
Full arch dental implants replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw with a fixed bridge of teeth held by four to six implants. The teeth stay in, and only your dentist removes them. Treatment on both jaws is often called full-mouth dental implants, and the four-implant version is often called All-on-4.
At Overland Park Dental Design, Dr. Patrick B. Lillis, DDS, designs your new teeth first, around your bite, your jaw joints, and your face, and then plans the implants to support them. The office sits at 109th and Roe in Overland Park, on the Leawood line.
- Upper, lower, or both arches
- Teeth designed first, implants planned to support them
- Temporary teeth you test and approve
- Complex cases planned as a team with an oral surgeon
- Practicing in Overland Park since 2004, one dentist, one location
Full arch options compared
A full arch of teeth can rest on your gums, snap onto implants, or stay fixed to them, and each step up adds stability and cost.
| Compare | Traditional denture | Snap-in implant denture | Fixed full arch implants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implants per arch | None | Two to four | Four to six |
| Comes out at home | Yes | Yes, to clean | No |
| Chewing | Weakest, can shift | Stable for most foods | Closest to natural teeth |
| Covers the roof of the mouth | Yes, for an upper | Often not, with enough implants | No |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
If you'd rather have teeth you can take out, implant dentures snap onto fewer implants.
Who full arch implants help
Full arch implants help people who have lost most or all of their teeth in a jaw, whose remaining teeth are failing, or whose denture no longer stays in.
- You wear a denture that slips, rubs, or keeps you from eating what you want
- Most of your remaining teeth are loose, broken or badly decayed
- You've had repeated failed crowns, bridges or root canals across one jaw
- You want fixed teeth and nothing covering the roof of your mouth
You need enough bone for four or more implants per arch, or a graft to rebuild it, and gum disease under control. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes raise the risk of problems, so Dr. Lillis works through your health history with you at the first visit.
All-on-4 vs All-on-6
Four implants can hold a full arch of teeth, and six implants spread the chewing load across more support, with similar long-term survival for both.
A 2024 meta-analysis in Heliyon of fixed upper full arches found 98.5% implant survival with four implants and 97.0% with six, with the teeth themselves surviving over 99% of the time in both groups. The six-implant group showed less bone loss and fewer complications.
The right number depends on your bone, your bite, and how hard you chew. People who grind or clench often do better with more support, and Dr. Lillis plans the number of implants around the bite the new teeth have to carry.
Full arch implants vs full mouth rehabilitation
Full arch implants replace your teeth, while full mouth rehabilitation rebuilds the teeth you still have with crowns, onlays, and veneers.
When most of your teeth are still savable, rebuilding them keeps your own roots. When Dr. Lillis can't save them, full arch implants replace them. Some people have both, with one arch rebuilt and the other on implants, and Dr. Lillis plans the bite across both.
Why your bite decides how full arch implants turn out
A full arch of teeth sets your whole bite at once, so the height, the angle of the teeth, and the way the jaws meet decide how comfortable, natural, and long-lasting the result is.
“Function is always first. Cosmetics will be a byproduct of proper function.”
Teeth set too long or too short strain the jaw muscles and joints, and teeth set too far forward or back change how your lips and face look. That's why Dr. Lillis designs the teeth first and has you test them as temporaries.
The full arch implant process step by step
Full arch treatment runs over several months, and you wear teeth the whole way through.
Consultation and records
Dr. Lillis examines your teeth, gums, jaw joints, and bite, and takes X-rays, scans, photographs, and a record of how your jaws meet. He checks where the bone can hold implants and how much room your face needs for the new teeth.
Designing your new teeth
He designs the new teeth digitally around your bite, your lips, and your smile line. You see the plan, ask questions, and approve the direction.
Your plan and costs
You hear how many implants each arch needs, whether you need extractions or bone grafts, how long each stage takes, and what each stage costs in writing.
Extractions and implant placement
Any failing teeth come out, and the implants go in, often in the same appointment. For complex cases, Dr. Lillis plans the surgery with an oral surgeon.
Temporary teeth
You wear a temporary set of teeth while the implants heal. When the bone allows, those temporaries attach to the implants soon after surgery, which people often call teeth in a day. You test how they look, feel, and bite, and Dr. Lillis adjusts them.
Healing
Over the next few months, the bone grows around the implants and locks them in place. Stick to soft foods early on so the implants can heal.
Your final teeth
Once the implants have fused and the temporaries feel right, the lab makes the final teeth to match what you tested. Dr. Lillis attaches them and checks your bite with everything in place.
Keeping them healthy
Your hygienist cleans around and under the bridge and checks the implants at every one-hour hygiene visit. At home, a water flosser and floss threaders reach under the teeth.
Recovery after full arch implant surgery
Most people feel sore and swollen for several days after full arch surgery, depending on how many extractions and grafts they had.
Cold packs, soft foods, and the pain relief you're given cover most of the first days. The diet gets less restricted as the implants heal over the following months.
The dentist who plans your full arch
Dr. Patrick B. Lillis has been thinking about how teeth are built since he was thirteen.
He started in his grandfather's dental laboratory, learning how restorations are waxed, cast, and shaped by hand. That early experience still influences how he evaluates a full-arch case today.
He later completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the UMKC School of Dentistry, where he treated complex implant, restorative, and reconstructive cases under attending faculty.
Dr. Lillis opened Overland Park Dental Design in 2004 and continues to lecture and collaborate with other dentists through Seattle Study Club.
For full-arch patients, that means the plan is built around more than replacing teeth. It considers function, bite, appearance, and how the final smile comes together as a whole.
What patients say
5.0 on Google · 32 reviews
Their team is detail oriented. You don't leave their office unless everything is perfect. I had major dental work performed. Since then I've received numerous compliments from family, friends & strangers about my new smile.
Everyone at OP Dental Design is so sincere, and truly listen to what your goals are. I spent a majority of my childhood seeing Dr. Lillis due to the fact that I was born without 8 permanent molars. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come as a team - he made the outcomes look flawless. There’s a reason I continue to see Dr. Lillis and his team for all my regular check ins today. I’ll always recommend Dr. Lillis to family and friends in Kansas City who are looking for a dentist who truly cares!
Dr. Lillis and his team are beyond amazing! From my first consultation to the end result I couldn't have asked for a better experience. They take care of you from the moment you walk in the door. Truly impressed with their concierge approach to dental care. Can't thank them enough!
What do full arch dental implants cost in Overland Park, KS?
In the Overland Park area, fixed full-arch dental implants often range from about $15,000 to $35,000 per arch. Some cases fall outside that range depending on what is included and the complexity of treatment. Local published pricing varies widely, from roughly $10,000 to $50,000 per arch.
The final cost depends on the number of implants, extractions, or bone grafting, whether you treat one or both arches, and the material used for the final teeth.
A snap-in implant denture is usually less expensive than a fixed full-arch restoration.
After your consultation, you receive a written treatment plan showing the cost of each stage and the options appropriate for your case.
Full arch dental implants near Leawood, Prairie Village and Kansas City
Overland Park Dental Design is in the Foxhill Medical Building at 109th and Roe, just off I-435 at Roe Avenue, on the line between Overland Park and Leawood. Patients come from Leawood, Prairie Village, Mission Hills, Olathe, Lenexa, and across the Kansas City metro.
Overland Park Dental Design, Patrick B. Lillis, DDS4601 West 109th Street, Suite 318, Overland Park, KS 66211
(913) 451-7330
Full arch dental implant questions
How many teeth does a full arch replace?
Usually 10 to 12 teeth per arch, all joined in one bridge that attaches to four to six implants.
Are full arch dental implants worth it?
For people who have lost most of their teeth or can't wear a denture, most find the fixed teeth change how they eat, speak, and smile. It's a big investment, so compare it with a snap-in implant denture at your consultation.
How long does it take to recover from full arch implant surgery?
Most people feel sore for several days and eat soft foods for the first weeks. The implants take several months to fully fuse with the bone.
How much does a full arch of implants cost?
It depends on the number of implants, extractions, grafts, and the material of the final teeth. You receive a written cost for each stage after your consultation.
What is the difference between All-on-4 and full arch implants?
All-on-4 is one type of full arch treatment that uses four implants per arch. Full arch implants can use four, five or six implants, depending on your bone and bite.
Are full arch implants the same as permanent dentures?
Yes, people often call fixed full arch implants permanent dentures because the teeth stay in and only your dentist removes them.
How long do full arch implants last?
The implants can last many years with healthy gums and a balanced bite. The teeth on top wear over time and may need repair or replacement after many years.
Book a full arch consultation in Overland Park
If you're losing your teeth, living with a denture you don't like, or have been told you need full mouth implants, the consultation shows you which options fit your mouth and what each one costs.