You’ve probably heard that dental implants are the best tooth replacement, and for many people they are! Implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces the roots of missing teeth as well as the chewing surfaces.
This allows them to look, feel and function like natural teeth. They’re also incredibly versatile because they can be fitted with a number of different dental restorations, allowing them to replace a single missing tooth with a crown, rebuild your smile using implant-supported dentures, or anything in between.
If you want most or all of your teeth back and have started looking at implant options, you may have come across All-on-4 or “all-on-four” implants. All-on-4 implants are a slightly different way of making implant-supported dentures, making treatment accessible to people who may not be able to receive traditional implant-supported dentures. They can be the key for you to experience the transformative power of implants, allowing you to regain your smile.
But what are All-on-4 implants, what sets them apart from other implant options, and how do you know if they’re right for you? To help you answer these questions and more, we’ve put together a guide on All-on-4 implants.
What are All-on-4 Implants?
All-on-4 implants are a special type of implant-supported prosthesis that restores a full dental arch using only four dental implants. Implants are a restorative dental treatment consisting of titanium metal rods that are embedded directly into your jawbone and then fitted with a dental restoration. With All-on-4 implants, all four implants are placed towards the front of your upper or lower jaw, where the bone density is higher.
Despite these differences, All-on-4 implants have a lot in common with other implant-supported prostheses and share many of the same advantages. As with other implant-supported prostheses, dental restorations with All-on-4 implants are designed just for you.
By working with your dentist to choose the size, shape and color of your new teeth, you will be able to give you a completely natural-looking and personalized smile. All-on-4 implants also retain much of the stability and natural feel of traditional implant-supported dentures, allowing them to rebuild your confidence in the functionality, health and appearance of your smile.
How are All-on-4 implants different from other implant options?
While All-on-4 implants function just like conventional implant-supported dentures and provide the same benefits for the long-term health, function and appearance of your smile, they have a few distinct differences. Many of these differences make implant-supported prostheses more accessible to a wider range of people.
1)All-on-4 implants restore your smile with fewer implants.
Traditional implant-supported dentures typically use six or more implants to support your dentures, and their number varies with each person’s unique treatment needs, but All-on-4 implants are specifically designed to restore your smile with just four implants.
2)They require less healthy bone tissue.
It is multipurpose to place All-on-4 implants in the front of your chin, where the bone density is high. There are advantages to spreading the implants in your jaw whenever possible, but careful placement of All-on-4 implants allows the implants to require less healthy bone density in your jaw for placement. This means that even if you’ve already lost a lot of bone density and don’t qualify for traditional implant-supported dentures, All-on-4 implants may still be an option for you!
3)It only takes one day.
Once you decide to have an implant, the process usually takes several procedures over several months. All-on-4 implants can be completed in a single day with a single procedure. This streamlines the process, eliminates a lot of waiting time and, best of all, allows you to enter our office for your procedure and leave with a complete, brand new smile!
4)They have faster recovery times.
The healing process is much faster, as All-on-4 involves only one procedure and places fewer implants. Plus, you only need to go through this healing process once! A big plus for many people, especially if taking the time for procedures and recovery feels like playing Jenga with your schedule.
5. They tend to cost less.
A few of these factors, such as fewer procedures and fewer implants placed, provide an added benefit when it comes to cost. They tend to make All-on-4 implants slightly less expensive than other implant-supported dentures. This is another factor that makes them a little more accessible to more people.
What is the procedure for All-on-4 Implants?
When you choose All-on-4 implant treatment, you will work with an oral surgeon to make sure you get the best possible results. This oral surgeon will carefully plan your procedure by examining your jaws to ensure your implants are placed at the ideal points and at the best angle, giving you results that look and feel natural. After your mouth is numbed or sedated, your oral surgeon will extract the remaining teeth.
They will then make a small incision where the implants will be inserted and perform a “back reduction”. This includes removing some of the bone where your implants will be placed to ensure your completed restoration looks and feels natural. If you are taking the All-on-4 on both arches of your mouth, a bulge reduction will be performed on both your upper and lower backs; otherwise, there will be only one on the back receiving the implants.
After that, your oral surgeon will carefully insert the implant rods (simulating the roots of your tooth) into the small ridge reductions, take a few stitches, and attach the abutments to your implant rods. Abutments are the metal parts to which your dentures will be attached and are the last step before getting your implant supported dentures.
Dentsuadiye comes into play here!
We handle the restorative and aesthetic aspects of your treatment, design and complete your prostheses. We make sure your dentures look beautifully natural and fit comfortably, making them feel as natural as they look. Your implant-supported dentures will be fixed to your new implants. After a few checks to make sure your bites are properly aligned, you’re done and free to enjoy your new smile!
Who is a good candidate for All-on-4 Implants?
Good candidates for All-on-4 implants are people who have usually lost all or most of their teeth along at least one arch of their mouth, but have already lost too much bone in other areas of their jaws to be candidates. conventional implant-supported prostheses. You still need good bone density in the area where your implants will be placed, but you are much more likely to have enough bone here as this area tends to have a higher bone density.
This means that most people are good candidates for All-on-4 implants!
However, if you have health conditions that slow your healing process or predispose you to infections, implants may not be the ideal treatment for you in general. Everyone is different, so consulting your doctor and dentist can help you determine if implants are right for you.
If you’re not sure which treatment option is right for you, Dr. Harrison! He will be happy to answer any of your questions, explain all your options, and help you understand which option is best for your unique treatment needs and wishes.
Try All-on-4 implants!
All-on-4 implants are making it possible for more people to receive implants than ever before. This gives you access to the many unique benefits that only implants can provide, giving you a new smile that looks, feels and functions completely naturally, while maintaining your long-term oral health and will continue to do so properly for a lifetime.
