How Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Work?
After a careful planning process, we perform All-on-4 surgery. During this appointment, we often are able to accomplish three things:
- We extract any remaining natural teeth.
- We insert the dental implants at precise, pre-planned locations. With All-on-4, we typically place two dental implants toward the front of the mouth and two at the back at a 45-degree angle. This strategy utilizes areas of the bone that are naturally strong and thick.
- We attach a provisional (temporary) denture to the implants.
After a healing period, your general dentist or prosthodontist can replace the provisional denture with a permanent restoration.
Am I a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
You might be a suitable candidate for All-on-4 dental implant treatment if:
- You are missing all or most of your teeth throughout one of your dental arches.
- Your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants.
- You do not have active gum disease or other conditions that might interfere with your treatment’s success.
- You have good habits that will support the long-term success of your new smile.
If you are unsure whether All-on-4 treatment is right for you, visit our team for a consultation. Most patients who want this treatment can qualify for it.
Benefits of All-on-4 Dental Implants
Some of the most outstanding benefits of All-on-4 dental implants include:
- Strength and stability. You can expect to enjoy a strong bite force that can enable you to eat virtually any food, including items that are challenging to consume with traditional dentures.
- All-on-4 dentures are carefully designed to look as natural as possible.
- All-on-4 dentures are permanently attached to the underlying implants, so in many ways, you can treat them just like natural teeth.
- Jawbone preservation. Following the extraction of natural teeth, the jawbone starts to deteriorate. Dental implants can stop that process and keep your jaw healthy and strong.
All-on-4 vs. Traditional Dental Implants
Both All-on-4 treatment and traditional dental implants can provide sturdy, top-quality tooth replacement. However, there are some key differences between them:
- All-on-4 usually requires just one surgery, whereas traditional implants often require two or more.
- All-on-4 is a streamlined process that may require less time overall than traditional implant procedures.
- Traditional dental implants are more versatile because they can replace any number of lost teeth. All-on-4 is exclusively for full-arch replacement.
Our team can help you compare the details of both traditional and All-on-4 implants so you can make a well-informed decision about how to rebuild your smile.
