The Many Benefits of All-on-4® Dental Implants

Whether it’s for cosmetic reasons or oral health concerns — your smile matters. If you’re living life without teeth (edentulous) or facing removal of all your teeth, you don’t need that reminder. The good news is that All-on-4® dental implants are an increasingly popular, more natural-appearing, and comfortable alternative to traditional removable dentures.

A typical dental implant starts with minor surgery to insert a small titanium screw in your jaw that serves as a replacement for a missing tooth root. Once your jawbone has fused with the implant, we attach a permanent crown that gives you a very realistic-looking and functional prosthetic tooth.

Rather than using an implant for each tooth, the All-on-4 method requires just four implants to replace all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw (dental arches). It’s often an excellent option for individuals who are already wearing dentures or for those who require full upper and/or lower tooth restoration.

Dr. Viorela Bauer is a dental implant specialist who encourages her patients to consider the many benefits of All-on-4 dental implants versus traditional dentures. Read on to discover what those benefits include.

It takes just one visit to place your All-on-4 dental implants

With very few exceptions, we can complete your All-on-4 dental implants in one visit. The procedure is done here in the office and starts with minor surgery to place the titanium “tooth roots” — four for each dental arch. We then attach temporary dental arches/replacement teeth to the implants.

The procedure usually takes about three hours, but that may vary if we need to extract several teeth. You can expect a little soreness afterward, which typically fades quickly and responds well to over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

You leave the office with a full smile

The temporary replacement teeth affixed during your initial visit are fully functional and appear quite natural. They aren’t as durable, however, as the permanent crowns we attach to your implants once the bony tissue in your jaw has had time to fuse completely with the titanium screws.

This fusion process between the implants and your jawbone can take several weeks. The temporary replacements spare you the discomfort of going without teeth for weeks.

All-on-4 implants have an all-natural appeal

All-on-4 dental implants are valued for their very natural appearance and feel. They won’t shift unexpectedly the way removable dentures can and are much less bulky, which makes it easy to forget they aren’t real.

Implants eliminate health risks associated with failing teeth

Along with pain, tooth decay and infection open the door for bacteria to invade your bloodstream and travel to other areas of your body. This can affect your heart health, worsen diabetes control, and lead to other serious medical conditions. Dental implants eliminate these risks.

And, unlike traditional dentures that ride on top of your gums, All-on-4 implants interact with your jawbone and trigger your body’s natural bone rebuilding and strengthening processes. This helps prevent the receding jaw and other facial changes that are often associated with edentulousness.  

They’re easier to care for than dentures

You won’t need special cleansers or overnight soaks for your dental implants. Just brush and floss as usual, and see Dr. Bauer for routine checkups as directed. Regular dental visits provide Dr. Bauer the opportunity to monitor your gums and other facets of your oral health as well as the condition of your implants.

All-on-4 dental implants have a very high patient satisfaction rate

With a patient satisfaction rate well above 95%, numerous research studies show that All-on-4 dental implants are a long-lasting and consistently effective solution for replacing missing and failing teeth. That’s certainly true here at Creekside Dental.

For further information about the benefits of All-on-4 dental implants versus traditional dentures, schedule a consultation today with Dr. Bauer at Creekside Dental.