All-on-4 Treatment Concept
Florence, AL
 The All-on-4 dental implant is one of the best treatments for people with multiple lost teeth. It involves placing a type of denture supported by only four implants.
The procedure provides adequate stability for your gums and jaw to restore biting and chewing function. The All-on-4 process reduces the work required for implants and can be completed in a fraction of the time.
At Singing River Dentistry will thoroughly assess your oral health before developing a custom treatment plan for your missing teeth.
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What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
An All-on-4 dental implant is an innovative process that involves anchoring four implants into the jawbone. A bridge-like prosthesis is fitted onto the implants to serve as artificial teeth. If there are remaining teeth, they are extracted to provide room for the placement of the prosthesis.
The process is ideal for patients with a row of missing teeth. It requires less recovery time than replacing individual implants. The procedure is a permanent and affordable alternative to conventional single implants or dentures.
How Do All-on-4 Implants Work?
Our dental specialists will schedule an initial consultation to discuss the possibility of treating your case with All-on-4 implants. You will discuss your concerns, and one of our dentists will answer your questions and explore alternatives where necessary.
The next step is to evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums. The assessment may include technology x-rays and CBCT, or Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, scans of your oral cavity. The initial assessment is crucial for developing a custom treatment plan. Our dentist will consult with you before finalizing the details of the procedure.
The process may require extracting teeth before placing the All-on-4 device on your jawbone. Two anterior and two posterior implants are affixed onto the jawbone to support the prosthesis. Our dentist usually affixes axial and tilted implant posts. Axial implants are the ones mounted straight or perpendicular to the jawbone.
They line up with the position of the natural tooth roots. The axial implants allow for efficient bite force and minimize strain on your implant as well as the surrounding bone.
On the other hand, tilted implants, also referred to as angulated implants, are mounted at an angle instead of being perpendicular to the jawbone. These implants can make it easier for those with less bone or bone density to have improved support for the implants and maneuver structures like the nerves.
Further, tilting them helps provide a more posterior position for the implants, hence improving their anchorage. Having two axial and two tilted implants, a patient is able to get more stable, strong replacement teeth.
Lastly, a bridge-like device is fitted on the same appointment. Our dental team will schedule an appointment to assess your progress during recovery.
What Are the Benefits of All-on-4?
The implant will replace an arch of teeth, enabling you to consume your favorite foods. It is a long-term and convenient solution for restoring the function of your natural teeth and jawbone.
All-on-4 implants are much more stable compared to dentures, which can become loose due to adhesive deterioration. The prosthetic device is effective for patients with mild to moderate jawbone loss. However, severe bone resorption requires treatment with other procedures to be effective.
Our dental team can complete the procedure in one visit. It only requires the placement of four implants to replace a full arch of teeth. That means the process is less invasive and has a shorter recovery time than individual implants.
The other advantage of All-on-4 implants over dentures is that they stimulate the bone and prevent deterioration. Dentures do not provide adequate pressure on the jawbone, increasing the risk of tooth loss and dental complications.
All-on-4 dental implants provide adequate stability for speech and can boost your self-esteem. Dentures can loosen, making it difficult to pronounce certain words. All-on-4 prosthetics are custom-made, offering exceptional fit and comfort to improve your quality of life.
How Long Does It Take to Get All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Ideally, placing All-on-4 implants takes around four to five months to complete the entire process. This includes the first appointment to the last one, where placement of the final, permanent dentures is done. Even so, the duration may vary based on your situation.
Who Should Get All-on-4?
People who have lost multiple teeth due to trauma, periodontal disease, or decay may be candidates, especially if they have waited for some time before replacement. They will need All-on-four because, after years of having missing teeth, their sinus load shifts down onto the jawbone.
As such, a dentist may not find a proper jawbone to work on, particularly in the back region of the mouth.
Nonetheless, there is still a sufficient amount of bone within the front area of the mouth. Therefore, the dentist is able to affix all four implants within the front region, with some straight and others placed at different angles.
For that reason, the implants are able to hold the bridge-like denture both in the front region and back of the mouth.
What Can You Eat after All on 4 Dental Implants?
What you eat after All-on-4 implant surgery has a great influence on how the recovery process goes. It also impacts how quickly the implant wound will heal from surgery. Our dentists will prescribe antibiotics and pain medication to soothe or tackle any discomforts.
It is prudent you consume the right foods to speed up healing and prevent post-op complications during recovery. Soft foods are required in the first several days. You can start introducing semi-solid foods after the discomfort has subsided. Avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods during the healing period.
How to Clean All-on-4 Dental Implants
All-on-4 implants do not require any special care because they are just like real teeth. You brush as usual, twice daily with a soft brush, and floss once a day using a water irrigator since that can reach the areas around the implants. An antibacterial mouthwash helps reduce bacteria, minimize inflammation, and enhance your overall oral health.
Schedule an All on 4 Consultation in Florence, AL Today!
Contact Singing River Dentistry to discuss your All-on-4 implant procedure or other tooth replacement procedures. Call us at 256-712-3549 to schedule a consultation with our dental implant specialists.
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