Are you missing an entire arch of teeth, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of removable dentures to replace them? Have you considered dental implants, but are wary of the cost of replacing each tooth individually? All-on-4 implant dentures could be the solution you’ve been searching for. These life-changing prosthetics combine the convenience of dentures with the permanent placement of dental implants, for a beautiful, durable, natural looking smile that with proper care could last a lifetime! Here are some of the pros and cons of All-on-4, and why these incredible restorations could be the best thing you’ll ever do for your smile!
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium or zirconium posts that are permanently attached to the jawbone to simulate the roots of the tooth. They are then topped with an abutment and a prosthetic crown, bridge, or denture, each of which are designed to remain in place for a lifetime. Not only do these prostheses look just like real teeth, but they also feel extremely realistic, and function identically, too!
What is All-on-4
All-on-4 is an implant denture that instead of needing six or more dental implants to secure to the jawbone only needs 4. This makes them ideal for patients with poor jawbone density, and for those who want a less invasive procedure, faster healing time, and a healthy, restored smile faster than they may have thought possible!
What are the Benefits of All-on-4?
Much like dental implants in general, All-on-4 has an extremely high success rate of 94 percent, even ten years after your initial surgery. Furthermore, because your dental implant surgery can happen at the same time as any preliminary bone grafting, healing from All-on-4 placement is much faster than it would be with other types of implant dentures. Plus, because they’re permanently secured to the jawbone via four dental implants, your denture won’t slip, shift, click, or come loose at inopportune moments like when you’re eating or speaking. Finally, because you are replacing an entire arch of teeth with just one prosthesis, All-on-4 is much more affordable than restoring each tooth individually!
What are the Drawbacks of All-on-4?
When it comes to All-on-4, the word drawback is a relative term, because even the ‘cons’ are easily overcome. The main issue patients have with All-on-4 is typically related to the cost, which is admittedly higher than your standard pair of removable dentures. However, when you factor in that dental implants are permanent, and that your prosthetic should last many times longer than traditional dentures, your treatment may even pay for itself over time.
There’s also a chance some patients may not qualify for All-on-4 if their jawbone has become too severely deteriorated; however, because All-on-4 is designed for those with poor bone density, this is less common than you think. In fact, because bone grafting can be done during your All-on-4 surgery, bone loss is often a non-issue with this treatment!
Next Steps
If you’re ready to make one of the best decisions you’ll ever make for your smile, it’s time to talk to your dentist about All-on-4. At your consultation, he’ll review your oral and overall health, check your bone density, and develop a treatment plan to help get back your gorgeous grin faster and more comfortably than you ever thought possible!
It’s time to stop struggling to eat, speak, and smile with missing teeth! If you’re ready to get back your gorgeous, healthy grin, talk to your dentist today about durable, lifelike All-on-4 implant dentures and get back to enjoying all the benefits of a full arch!
About Dr. Noorda
Dr. Brett Noorda earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry, where he received the Larry E. Sorum Memorial Award for Excellence in Endodontics. To learn more about All-on-4 and bring back your beautiful, functional smile, visit our website or call us today at 702-456-7403.