On his wall Smile Clinic office at Midvale hangs a map of the United States with hundreds of stickers marking the locations from which patients have traveled to receive the holostomy implant procedure. The procedure is called 3 in 6 and was created over a decade ago by Dr. Randy Roberts, who grew up in Orem, and his team at the Smile Clinic.
“After placing hundreds of implants, I would have patients come 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 these patients would mean removing healthy bone to make room for a large prosthesis that had both gums and teeth. I thought, why not don’t save their bone and gum and just replace the teeth?’
After developing the process a decade ago, Roberts placed the first 3-on-6 on his cousin.
“I don’t want to call him a guinea pig, because he’s actually using bridges on implants, which are a proven method,” Roberts said. “The challenge is using implants and bridges to restore a whole mouth of teeth. There are a lot of complications in making everything look and feel perfect and natural while creating something that’s not going to break. With newer, stronger materials, 3D printing and our treatment protocols, we can make thin, strong, beautiful teeth and place them on the same day as the implants.”
“It’s great to have that 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 are a great option. Some also need an implant or veneers, which we also like to do are not your real teeth.’
Because of the procedure’s popularity, 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. There are now more than 25 providers from Alaska to Florida offering the treatment Roberts developed.
3-on-6 would not have been possible 15 years ago simply because the implant placement has to be so precise and we didn’t have the technology back then. We use three different types of bone and tissue scans, so we have very predictable and beautiful results for our patients. We feel that we have mastered it for many years and thousands of smiles.
– Dr. Randy Roberts
“It’s very technology-based and extremely accurate,” Locke said. “The 3-on-6 wouldn’t have been possible 15 years ago simply because the implant placement has to be so precise and we didn’t have the technology back then. We use three different types of bone and tissue scans, so we have very predictable and beautiful results for our patients.
Among the hundreds of out-of-state patients they see, Tami flew in from Oklahoma to have the procedure. “It was worth it for me to fly to get my natural gum line. I’m a public speaker in my career and I’ve talked to a lot of people who have had other procedures but they said it didn’t feel natural in their mouth and you can’t say the same.”
She said she was impressed with the care she received at the office. “Everyone in the office was great. I could tell they really cared about me. They were over the top. You’re not just a patient, you’re part of the family from the start. The dental work I had done before was a disaster even though I got it by a famous dentist.”
Of 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’ve ever done. This is not just cosmetic. I couldn’t eat well with other people, especially in professional settings, your health goes down because you don’t eat well, and I constantly had infections in my mouth and I wouldn’t feel any eye if you had to spend money to fix your heart for health you, but we feel bad about spending money to fix our teeth.”
Since returning home to Oklahoma, Tami said she feels her life has improved a lot.
“Daily life after 3-on-6 surgery is a game changer. It’s great, it’s easy. It boosts your confidence. Positive energy replaces negative energy because of your new smile. It’s an energy shift. My grandson looks now to me and squeezes my face and says “beautiful, beautiful, beautiful”.
Smile Clinic offers free consultations to patients looking for whole mouth dental implant options. You can learn more or schedule a free consultation at www.utahsmileclinic.com or by calling or texting 385-600-5534.
