Dental technology has improved dramatically over the last several years, significantly increasing your dental options for replacing missing teeth. If you are missing several teeth and want to regain your smile and confidence, consider All-on-4® dental implant dentures.
Missing teeth are not only an issue when it comes to the aesthetics of your smile, but other dental concerns can develop if you are missing teeth for a prolonged period. These concerns include the following:
- Bone loss – Resorption will start to occur a few months after you lose a tooth. Your body will absorb the bone tissue from your jaw where you are missing a tooth, which can change your facial shape.
- Bite issues – Remaining teeth will shift into the gap where you are missing teeth, which can cause jaw issues.
- Tooth overgrowth – The tooth opposite your missing tooth may grow longer to fill the gap where your tooth once was, which can cause bite issues as well.
- Functionality issues – Your ability to bite and chew food will be compromised if you are missing teeth.
What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Also known as Full-arch implants, All-on-X implants, or Implant-supported dentures, All-on-4 dental implants are dentures attached to four titanium posts that your dentist will surgically place into your jawbone. These implants are intended to replace either an entire upper or lower arch.
One of the main benefits of the All-on-4 implants is that your dentist no longer has to conduct bone grafts to create a support system for the titanium posts; with All-on-4, they can strategically place the four posts wherever you have the most bone density. This dramatically reduces the length of the procedure and the recovery time; you can expect the process for each arch to take approximately two hours. Incredibly, you can have a completely new, beautiful smile in only a few visits to our Nashville, TN, office.
What Is the Procedure for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
Once you and your dentist have agreed on your treatment plan and you are ready for the All-on-4 implant procedure, the steps are as follows:
- Your dentist will make you comfortable and sedate you for the procedure.
- They will take digital x-rays of your mouth to determine the best placement for the four titanium posts.
- They will remove any remaining teeth or infected tissue from your arch.
- The four implant posts will be placed in your jawline at an angle for increased stability.
- An abutment, or connector, will be placed on each of the four posts.
- A denture will be fitted onto the abutments. Once the denture plate is set, you won’t have to remove it like traditional dentures. It will function just like natural teeth.
Are You a Candidate for All-on-4 Dental Implants?
For some patients, traditional dental implants require a variety of surgical preparations to take place before the procedure; these preparations include:
- Sinus lift
- Gum disease treatment
- Bone grafts
Each of these procedures adds treatment time, which means you will have to wait longer to enjoy your new smile.
However, with All-on-4 dental implants, many patients can go directly to the implant procedure. You may be a candidate for All-on-4 implants if:
- You have lost most of the teeth in your arch
- You have lost some of your jawbone
- You have suffered from gum disease
- You have suffered from dental trauma
However, if you suffer from an autoimmune disorder like diabetes or Lupus, you may not be a candidate for All-on-4 implants. Talk to your dental professionals at Sullivan Dental Partners to see if you’re eligible.
Why Should You Choose All-on-4 Dental Implants?
If you still need to be convinced about why All-on-4 dental implants are the best choice for your dental needs, consider the following reasons:
- You will enjoy the strength and stability of natural teeth since your dental implants are attached to your jawbone.
- Unlike traditional dentures, you don’t have to remove your All-on-4 dental implants to clean them. You also leave them in to eat and drink; they are the closest thing to natural teeth you can get.
- As stated earlier, the All-on-4 dental implants stimulate your jawbone, which keeps it healthy and eliminates resorption. Other tooth replacement procedures don’t do that, and you would eventually struggle with jawbone deterioration.
- Dental implants are expensive, so if you were to get a full mouth of dental implants, it would be quite a large sum to do so. With All-on-4 dental implants, you can often only have the expense of four dental implants, so it’s much more economical.
Are You Interested in All-on-4 Dental Implants in Nashville, TN?
If you’re ready to improve your smile, please call Sullivan Dental Partners at (615) 373-1012 for more information or to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and making your smile dreams come true. Don’t wait; call us today to see if you are a candidate for All-on-4 dental implants in Nashville, TN.