Before we talk about all-on-4 dental implants, let’s first discuss dental implants. A dental implant is like a replacement tooth root, which is surgically placed in the jawbone. As the jawbone heals, it screws the dental implant in place, which allows the dentist to fix the prosthetic tooth. The popularity of dental implants has soared in recent years, primarily because of the obvious advantages of overdentures. Just because you are missing a few teeth doesn’t mean you need one dental implant for each lost tooth. As the name suggests, in the case of all-on-4 dental implants, four dental implants are placed strategically, which are then used for restoring the full smile.
Benefits at a Glance
There are several benefits of all-on-4 dental implants, which is why dental surgeons and dentists are recommending the same to many patients. Firstly, it is possible to replace an entire set of missing teeth in just one surgery. Unlike dentures, dental implants don’t move around, so your smile is more permanent than ever. Since only four implants are used, the surgery doesn’t take much time, and you can actually save money on the treatment. In most cases, bone grafting is not needed either.
On the Flip Side
It’s important to understand that all-on-4 dental implants are not for everyone. All-On-Four Only a dentist, after necessary X-rays and scans, will decide on whether you need separate implants for each missing tooth or just all-on-4 dental implants would suffice. Also, there is no way that you can test how the replacement teeth will feel before getting the dentures. The all-on-4 dental implants are usually not placed in the molar area, so there are limitations for some patients.
Other Things to Know
In general, patients need a few weeks in healing and recovery after dental implant surgery. In the case of all-on-4 implants, the recovery time may be less, considering that there are just four implants. As expected, all-on-4 implants can last a lifetime with basic dental care. There are limited clinics that actually specialize in all-on-4 implant treatments, so do your homework before choosing one. The dentist will usually do a complete scan to know if you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Many people also know this kind of treatment as ‘teeth in a day’, because you can get all your teeth back in just one day. Find a dental clinic that offers all-on-4 implants in your area and ask for an appointment.
