Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
On the wall of the Smile Clinic office in Midvale hangs a map of the United States with hundreds of stickers marking the locations from where patients have traveled to get their full-mouth dental implant procedure. The procedure is called 3 on 6 and was created over a decade ago by Dr. Randy Roberts, who grew up in Orem, and his team at Smile Clinic.
"After placing hundreds of implants I'd have patients coming in looking for full mouth implants with All-on-4 treatment plans," Roberts explained. "The patients had unhealthy teeth, but healthy bone underneath. Getting the All-on-4 for those patients would mean removing healthy bone to make room for a large prosthetic that had both gums and teeth. I thought, why not save their bone and gums and just replace the teeth?"
After developing the procedure over a decade ago, Roberts placed the first 3-on-6 on his cousin.
"I don't want to call him a guinea pig, because it's really using bridges on implants, which are a time-tested method," Roberts said. "The challenge is using implants and bridges to restore an entire mouth of teeth. There are a lot of complexities with making everything look and feel perfect and natural while also making something that is not going to break. With newer, stronger materials, 3D printing, and our treatment protocols, we can make thin, strong, beautiful teeth and place them the same day as the implants."
"It's great to have this extra option for my patients," Roberts said. "Some people don't have enough bone for the 3-on-6 and still need an All-on-4 or All-on-X, which we're happy to provide, and is a great option. Some also just need an implant or veneers, which we also love doing. It's just nice to have a full mouth implant option that doesn't require any bone removal, and preserves the natural gum line. On very close inspection it can be difficult to tell that they aren't your real teeth."
Because of the popularity of the procedure, Roberts, Logan Locke and Micah Weisenberg now run a training institute out of their Midvale location where doctors fly in from around the country to learn how to perform the 3-on-6. Now there are more than 25 providers from Alaska to Florida offering the treatment that Roberts developed.
The 3-on-6 wouldn't have been possible 15 years ago simply because the implant placement needs to be so precise, and we didn't have the technology back then. We use three different types of scans of the bone and tissue, so we have very predictable and beautiful results for our patients. We feel like we've mastered this over many years and thousands of smiles.
–Dr. Randy Roberts
"It's very technology-based and super precise," said Locke. "The 3-on-6 wouldn't have been possible 15 years ago simply because the implant placement needs to be so precise, and we didn't have the technology back then. We use three different types of scans of the bone and tissue, so we have very predictable and beautiful results for our patients. We feel like we've mastered this over many years and thousands of smiles."
Among the hundreds of out-of-state patients they see, Tami flew in from Oklahoma to get the procedure. "It was worth it for me to fly in to get the natural gumline. I speak publicly in my career, and I spoke to a lot of people who had gotten other procedures, but said they didn't feel natural in their mouth and didn't speak the same."
She said she was impressed with the care she received at the office. "Everyone in the office was wonderful. I could tell that they genuinely cared about me. It was top-shelf. You aren't just a patient, you are part of a family from the beginning. The dental work I had gotten before was a disaster, even though I had gotten it from a renowned dentist."
About her decision to get the 3-on-6 at Smile Clinic, she said "It was hard to put myself first and make that investment in myself, but it was the coolest thing I have ever done. This is not just cosmetic. I couldn't eat well. I was awkward around other people, especially in professional settings. Then there's your health, which declines because you're not eating well, and I constantly had infections in my mouth and would feel sick. Nobody would blink an eye if you had to spend money to get your heart fixed for your health, but we feel bad about spending money fixing our teeth."
Since returning home to Oklahoma, Tami said she feels like her life has vastly improved.
"Daily life post 3-on-6 surgery is an absolute game changer. It is wonderful, it is easy. It sparks your confidence. Positive energy replaces the negative energy because of your new smile. It's an energy change. My grandson now looks at me and squeezes my face and says 'pretty, pretty, pretty'."
Smile Clinic offers free consultations for patients looking for full-mouth dental implant options. You can find out more or schedule a free consultation at www.utahsmileclinic.com, or by calling or texting 385-600-5534.
