Why You Need All-on-Four Implants
Your smile just is not the same when you have missing teeth. Even though there are several ways to replace them, getting the all-on-four treatment concept is a popular way to get beautiful teeth again. This unique system can replace all of your teeth and let you smile with confidence once again.
The Concept
Dental implants have been around for some time. The newer concept will enable you to replace either your upper or lower teeth – or all of them. All that is needed is four dental implants for each jaw. The back implants are placed at an angle, which helps to stabilize your teeth, but to be completely successful, healing is necessary.
Walk Out with New Teeth
When you walk into the office of a dental implant dentist, this procedure will enable you to walk out with usable teeth. It is fast and you do not need to wait months before you get your teeth. You can also get teeth extracted at the same time.
Dental Implants
A dental implant consists of three different parts. The part that serves as the tooth root – the implant – is made of titanium. It is shaped like a screw and titanium is a bio-compatible material. In a few months, your jawbone will attach to it, making it stable. The other two parts are the abutment and the implant supported dentures.
Instead of needing a dental implant for each replacement tooth, only four are needed. The four implants will support a set of dentures that will let you eat just about anything you want. When the dentures are made for the implants, they are stronger than a normal set of dentures and should last longer, too.
Advantages of the All-on-four System
Dental implants are a much greater improvement over regular dentures. Regular dentures are notorious for slipping at the most inconvenient time – when you are trying to talk, or eat, or when you cough. Dental implants prevent slippage of your new implant supported dentures.
Another problem with dentures is that they can make your gums sore because they rest on them. With the all-on-four treatment concept, the dentures rest completely on the implants and not on the gums – preventing them from getting sore.
Regular dental implants may require that patients need a bone graft before an implant can be placed. When it is needed, it requires that healing be allowed to take place before the implants can be implanted. This can take from three to six months.
With the all-on-four system, bone grafts are not necessary. The periodontist will place the implants where there already is sufficient bone. This placement of the posterior implants will be at an angle that is up to 45-degrees, and the implants will be longer.
The Teeth
Following the implantation of the implants, you will be given a temporary set of teeth. These will be replaced with your permanent teeth once the jawbone has healed.
The Success
In most cases, dental implants are successful. Dentists have seen an overall success rate of 95 percent or better. Nearly all of them have lasted for more than 10 years. Bone loss in implant patients was only 1.4 millimeters after a three-year period.
Post-Operation Instructions
After the surgery, you will need to rest for up to three days. You will also want to avoid smoking because it will slow the healing process. You also want to refrain from exerting yourself in any way.
Even though your new teeth and smile will look great, you will need to change your diet to help your jaw bone heal. This means that you will need to eat soft foods for a while – up to three months. The jaw bone must attach itself to the dental implants or they may fail. This process takes between three to six months.
Ongoing Care
After you have received your all-on-four dental implants and teeth, it is important to maintain daily oral care. You may need to provide a little greater care to ensure their longevity. Even though the implants cannot be damaged, the gums and jawbone around them can be and this could cause the implants to fail without the proper care. You will need to make regular visits to the dentist to ensure that your gums and jawbone stay in good health.
Qualifications
Most anyone can get dental implants – especially the all-on-four treatment concept. You will need to be free of gum disease, and you may need to talk to your doctor if you have problems with uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart conditions.
Implant supported dentures can give you your smile back. The all-on-four treatment concept can enable most people to get stable dentures that will let you eat what you want. Dr. Kumar T. Vadivel, DDS, MS, MBA, FDSRCS a Board Certified Periodontist, provides patients with the all on four dental implant system in his Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Mockingbird/SMU, and Grapevine, TX offices. Most dental insurance plans are accepted. To set up a consultation or to get more information about the dental implant process, you can contact his ToothHQ office
