All-on-4® Dental Implants for a Restored Smile

What are All-on-4 Dental Implants?

The All-on-4® dental implant system is a new implant procedure for patients missing multiple teeth—perhaps even most or all of an upper or lower set—due to an accident, tooth decay, or gum disease. When the damage is too severe for standard implants, bridges, or crowns, All-on-4 is a dental implant treatment plan that replaces missing teeth in a day, restoring full function and beauty to the patient’s mouth.

Regardless of the cause of lost teeth, tooth replacement is an issue that a qualified dental implant center must address to maintain a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene. Contact us today if you want to learn more about our implant dentistry solutions.

All-on-4 vs Standard Dental Implants

A standard dental implant, along with crowns and bridges, are viable treatment options when a patient has lost some or all of a single tooth. With a single implant, a prosthetic tooth is anchored in the bone of a tooth socket. Each anchor, which serves as an artificial tooth root, may require a bone grafting procedure, necessitating extended healing time. 

When a patient has lost many teeth, replacing each one individually can be difficult, costly, and painful. The All-on-4 process uses at least four anchors in the jawbone to provide a secure base for a full upper or lower set of replacement teeth. With All-on-4 treatment, patients experience fewer invasive procedures and quicker recovery. You’ll be smiling sooner, with your confidence in your appearance restored.

All-on-4 Treatment Process

The first step is to schedule a consultation with your dentist, who will assess your teeth and discuss your goals. We may take x-rays, intraoral images, or impressions of your teeth. Detailed measurements will be taken in order to plan the placement of the implants precisely and to design the shape and orientation of the replacement teeth. All-on-4 implants are custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth, and a perfect fit is guaranteed. The goal of All-on-4 is to give the patient implants that have the same appearance as beautiful, natural teeth. 

During your consultation, your dentist will fully explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. Your dentist will also provide guidance on the type of outcome that can be expected once the procedure has been completed. A second appointment will then be scheduled for the actual procedure. 

During the procedure, remnants of lost teeth will be extracted, and an incision will be made in the gums to expose the jawbone. If ridge reduction is required to ensure a perfect fit for the implants, the ridge will be reduced by removing predetermined measurements of bone. The remaining bone will be smoothed and prepared for the insertion of the dental implants.

Pilot holes for the implants will be drilled at angles to obtain the greatest possible strength and stability while avoiding contact with nerves or sinus cavities. Once the implants are inserted, the dental surgeon will close all incisions in the gums. A temporary prosthesis will be attached to the anchor points to protect them while the patient’s gums and jawbone heal.

Patients will be prescribed pain relievers as needed and will be provided with information on how to maintain proper oral health to accelerate healing. Your dentist may schedule follow-up appointments to monitor progress. It is recommended that patients follow a soft-food diet for the first few months after the procedure to allow the implants to bond with the jawbone. The bonding process is usually complete after 3-4 months, at which time the patient can introduce firmer foods into their diet.

The patient can then return to their dentist for another set of impressions, which will be used to craft the final, fixed bridge prosthesis. The dentist will remove the temporary prosthesis and take molds of the gums and implants so that the final prosthesis will fit perfectly. After the impressions have been taken, the temporary prosthesis will be replaced until the final version has been crafted.

Once the final prosthesis has been attached, the patient is ready to enjoy their life with their new set of permanent, natural-looking replacement teeth! 

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you have multiple missing teeth or are in danger of losing multiple teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease, you may be a good candidate for All-on-4 dental implants. In order to determine if All-on-4 is the right choice for you, your implant dentist will need to perform a thorough exam to assess your oral health and review your medical history. It’s important to identify any underlying medical issues that may need to be addressed or corrected before we begin the All-on-4 procedure.