Leave A ReviewWhat are All-On-4 Dental Implants?
All-On-4 dental implants are a solution for replacing all the missing teeth in your mouth or an arch of missing teeth with only 4 implants per arch. This technology is revolutionary for dentists and patients because we can now offer a cost-effective, convenient solution that doesn’t require surgery for 28 teeth. With traditional implants, it’s one tooth per one implant. But with all-on-4, it’s 14 teeth per 4 implants.
We place the dental implants in your jaw to act as a root for your teeth. They’re small titanium posts that integrate with your jawbone. We put them in the parts of your jaw that can handle the chewing pressure of more than one tooth and still stimulate the entire jaw to prevent bone loss.
Who is a Candidate for All-On-4?
To be a candidate for all-on-4 dental implants, you must be missing or soon to be missing an entire arch of teeth. That means no teeth on the top, no teeth on the bottom, or both. Those missing only a few teeth would fare better with traditional dental implants.
You must also be fit enough to undergo surgery, be free of gum disease at the time of surgery, and have adequate jawbone density. We’ll treat gum disease over a few weeks if it is present. Only after your gums are healthy can you get all-on-4s. If gum disease was the cause of your missing teeth, you might also be low on jawbone density. If this is the case, a bone graft may be necessary before proceeding.
Why are they also called “Implant Dentures?”
The word “dentures” can be scary for some people, but not when you get all-on-4 implant dentures. They’re called dentures because the teeth that sit atop the dental implants are a high-quality set of dentures. But with none of the denture drawbacks.
Your dentures are secure on the 4 implants of each arch. They’ll never slip, fall out, whistle, or prevent you from eating your favorite foods.
Benefits of All-On-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 dental implants offer all the benefits of traditional dental implants with less invasive surgery and can give you a dazzling smile.
Jaw Bone Retention
One of the significant drawbacks of traditional dentures is they don’t stimulate your jawbone. With natural teeth, each tooth is anchored in place with a root, but your roots do more than keep your teeth in place; they take the bite force of chewing and stimulate your jawbone to prevent bone loss. Bone loss occurs similar to muscle loss. If you aren’t using your muscles, they get smaller. It’s the same with your jawbone. Without stimulation, it’ll reduce, and your face may begin to look sunk-in and smooshed.
When you get all-on-4s, the implants stimulate your jawbone. Your facial structure will remain intact and youthful.
Long-lasting
Dental implants are long-lasting. There hasn’t been a study long enough to determine the lifespan of a dental implant that failed due to durability. As long as you take care of your gums by brushing and flossing daily, visiting your Anchorage implant dentist as often as recommended, and not smoking cigarettes, your implants can last you a lifetime. There are instances where dental implants fail, but those are few a far between. As long as you meet the candidacy requirements, take care of them, and choose a skilled dentist, you’re golden.
The dentures that sit atop your implants can last 10-15 years before needing replacement. The better you keep your mouth healthy, the longer they’ll last.
Fully Functional
All-on-4 dental implants are a fully functional set of teeth. You won’t have the headaches associated with traditional dentures, and you’ll be able to eat all your favorite foods, including those that are tough, like biting into an apple, eating steak, and other crunchy foods.
Enhanced Appearance
You’ll experience an enhanced appearance with all-on-4s. Since the teeth sitting atop your implants look, feel, and act like natural teeth, you and your friends won’t be able to tell the difference. You’ll smile beautifully all day long.
What to Expect During and After the Procedure
The all-on-4 dental implant procedure is just like the traditional implant procedure. First, you’ll have a consultation and exam with implant dentist Dr. Kendall Skinner or Dr. Michael Fox. If you’re a candidate, you’ll schedule your surgery or the necessary pre-procedures. On the day of your implant surgery, make sure to have someone drive you to the office and wait for you here. You’ll need someone to drive you home and keep an eye on you after surgery. Plan to take a few days after the surgery to rest.
During surgery, your Anchorage dentist will place the implants. They’ll take a few months to heal, but you’ll still get to wear high-quality temporary dentures secured atop the implants during that time. Once your implants heal, we’ll place your final dentures. In some cases, you can leave with your final dentures on the day of surgery.
Be sure to take care of your all-on-4 dental implants like you would natural teeth. After the procedure, you’ll have an entire set of teeth, with only 4 implants per arch and one surgery.
Replace Your Missing Teeth with All-On-4 Dental Implants
If you’re missing a set of teeth in Anchorage, contact the doctors at Excellence in Dentistry. They’re highly trained implant dentists who can give you a beautiful smile and help you get your life back. Say hello to social engagements, eat your favorite foods, and have a smile you can’t resist. Call (907) 349-0022 today or make an appointment online.
