For patients that have experienced tooth loss or are faced with having teeth extracted, there is apprehension about what to do in the interim without teeth. How do you eat or go out in public? The concerns become reality. With the All-on-4 dental treatment plan, the patient will have dental implants and immediate placement of temporary restorations completed in one dental visit. A consultation with your prosthodontist will provide answers to address your questions or concerns.
What is All-On-4?
This is a dental treatment plan that is an ideal substitute for dentures. When the patient is faced with the loss of one or both arches of their natural teeth, the idea of false teeth can be daunting. But with All-on-4, all it takes is four implants to hold one entire arch of teeth permanently in place.
Dental implants are titanium posts; with All-on-4, the implants are strategically placed in gums so when the final restoration is ready, those four implants will have been integrated by bone to form a solid support system for the teeth they will hold in place.
The Process
A prosthodontist (a dentist who specializes in missing teeth) will review your overall health and perform a thorough dental exam. Dental x-rays will determine bone strength, as bone augmentation is available.
The patient is sedated for their comfort, the implants are placed, and a temporary restoration is provided. A healing period follows; during this time bone and implants are merging. Once implants are fully integrated within the bone structure, the temporary is removed and the final restoration will be tried in for fit, appearance, and function.
When correct, abutments are added and the final restoration will be cemented in place.
The Result
The patient will enjoy a beautiful smile, eat all the foods they love, and speak without fear of their teeth slipping or moving.
Since these teeth are permanent, you won’t need to remove them for cleaning. You will never be without your teeth; and they won’t sit beside you in a cup while you sleep.
Daily maintenance coupled with regular dental visits will allow you to enjoy great dental health. And even though you don’t have to worry about cavities, regular care is required to prevent gum disease. With the proper care, All-on-4 dental implants are designed to serve you for life. Contact us at Dakota Prosthodontics and Implant Center!
