Why Is It Called All-on-4

The term All-on-4® refers to a more convenient alternative than conventional dentures. It involves installing dental implants into the patient’s jaw to serve as the base for a special type of dentures that are fixed in place.

Everything you need to know about All-on-4

Traditional dentures are the most affordable way to replace missing teeth, but they have issues like poor stability. This can lead to the oral appliance rubbing against soft tissues in the mouth, leading to irritation. It can also lead to difficulty speaking or chewing or even the dentures falling out of the mouth.

As a result, some denture wearers search for more stable alternatives. Getting implants is an excellent way to replace missing teeth due to their stability and longevity. However, implants also happen to be one of the more expensive missing teeth replacement options.

All-on-4 combines the affordability of dentures with the stability of implants. It provides a permanent solution for missing teeth that do not have the rigorous cleaning requirements of traditional dentures. Instead of replacing each missing tooth with an implant, four implants are inserted into each dental arch. These implants will serve as a base for the patient’s dentures and help keep the person’s jaw properly stimulated.

Getting All-on-4 requires minor oral surgery, so patients should be healthy enough to recover. Health problems, like immune system disorders and diabetes, can hinder a person’s recovery. Such patients will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if All-on-4 is the right solution for them.

Patients should also have enough thickness in their jawbone to hold implants in place. All-on-4 uses modern imaging techniques to locate the best areas in the patient’s jaw to install implants, and many patients do not need bone grafts to thicken their jawbone for implants. If the patient does need bone grafts, they will need to be fully healed from the process to proceed with All-on-4. That can take up to three months.

Benefits of All-on-4

The benefits of choosing All-on-4 over conventional dentures include:

• Prevents bone tissue loss: Bone tissues in the jaw need regular stimulation to remain healthy; the implants used for All-on-4 help keep these tissues stimulated, preventing the bone tissue loss that takes place when a person has missing teeth
• More convenient: All-on-4 gives patients a permanent solution for their missing teeth, and it does not require any specialized cleaning, unlike conventional dentures that need to be cleaned and soaked in a cleaning solution daily; good oral hygiene is all that one needs to keep All-on-4 dentures in good condition.
• Long-lasting solution: The implants used for All-on-4 can last an entire lifetime with good oral hygiene; only the dentures need to be changed over time

Restore your smile with All-on-4

Looking for a better solution than conventional dentures? Call or visit our Safford clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.