Most patients who have lost all of their teeth want to replace them as quickly as possible. Advanced dental technology now allows patients to receive an entire arch of prosthetic teeth in a single appointment with our oral surgeons.
The patient needs just four dental implants to undergo this innovative All-on-4 treatment. The outer two implants are angled beneath the jaw, giving them the strength needed to support the denture immediately.
Additionally, the implants are placed toward the front of the jaw, so even long-term denture wearers who have experienced bone loss underneath the sinus floor can still qualify for the procedure.
As with all dental implants, All-on-4 implants are placed during an outpatient surgical procedure in the surgeon’s office. Most patients will want to take advantage of some sort of sedation for this procedure, in addition to the local anesthetic that will be used.
Before leaving the office, the patient is fitted with the prosthetic arch. After the implants have fully integrated with the bone, the patient may return to receive a second, stronger denture.
In the days immediately following the All-on-4 placement procedure, patients should use common sense to determine what they can and cannot do to avoid complications and problems with the dental implants. Maintain a soft diet for a few weeks and be gentle with your oral hygiene routine (but still keep up with it to minimize the presence of potentially infection-causing bacteria!).
In addition to the short treatment time frame, All-on-4 dental implants have a number of advantages over conventional dentures. All-on-4 implants are more stable and secure, preventing the jawbone resorption that occurs with standard dentures, which have no root-like structure to anchor the bone. An implant-supported arch will not slide out of place, and it’s more effective at chewing so patients can maintain a varied diet.
We encourage patients who have lost all of their teeth or those facing extraction of their remaining teeth to consider Same Day Implants and Teeth. Discuss this treatment option with one of our oral surgeons so that you can learn more about its benefits. Schedule a consultation today at one of our four North Texas offices.