All-on-4 Dental Implants Reviews

All-on-4 dental implants involve a surgical procedure where your dentist replaces a full arch of your upper or lower teeth with artificial teeth that are fixed in your mouth. Each All-on-4 arch contains 10 to 14 teeth, providing a better solution than traditional removable dentures, which tend to be uncomfortable and can shift in your mouth when you eat or talk. Dentists recommend All-on-4 dental implants for patients who have lost most of their natural teeth through decay, damage, or gum disease.

The All-on-4 Dental Implants Process

The arches for All-on-4 dental implants are used in conjunction with four titanium posts surgically embedded into your upper or lower jawbone. Once in place, the four implants function like the natural roots of your teeth, providing support and stability for the full All-on-4 arch.

Typically, the first day of your procedure will include extraction of existing, damaged teeth; placement of the four posts; and attachment of temporary teeth. You will have temporary acrylic teeth in your mouth for about six months, possibly longer, depending on the time needed for your gums and jawbone to fully heal. Your final customized All-on-4 dental implants will be made from titanium that is coated with acrylic, zirconia, or porcelain.

Advantages of All-on-4 Dental Implants

All-on-4 dental implants eliminate the inconvenience of removable dentures, which can be uncomfortable and difficult to keep clean. Also, the technique used with All-on-4 reduces the need for painful and time-consuming bone grafting surgery, so even patients who have jawbone loss or sinus issues can be good candidates. All-on-4 dental implants can only be removed by your dentist. They are more durable than dentures and will look much more like your natural teeth.

Most importantly, once your mouth is fully healed, you will have limited disruption to your everyday life and minimal food restrictions.

The All-on-4 technique does provide you with an important difference from traditional dental implant bridges. The four titanium posts are embedded into your jawbone at an angle, which does not require the same level of bone density. The result is that most All-on-4 patients can avoid the need for bone grafting because the technique maximizes contact between the implant post and the jawbone.

By contrast, traditional dental implant restoration requires six to eight posts to support a full fixed bridge. Because the posts are placed straight into the jawbone, grafting is often required to improve bone density.

Disadvantages of All-on-4 Dental Implants

Although an uncommon risk, a failed implant can result if your jawbone does not properly grow around the implanted titanium post. Some patients report moderate difficulty speaking after surgery and the need for speech therapy. Others report tender gums and minor difficulty eating for up to a month after final placement of their arches. All patients should wear a mouthguard for sleeping to protect the new replacement teeth against clenching and grinding.

All-on-4 dental implants can be expensive. But if you need a full set of new replacement teeth for your upper or lower arch, the All-on-4 approach might be more cost-effective than individual implants.

Always check with your dental insurance provider to find out what is covered for All-on-4 dental implants. Cost depends on several factors, such as the complexity of your case, the materials used, and where you live and receive treatment. To help cover what you will have to pay out of pocket, ask your dentist about third-party financing or options for making monthly payments based on what you can afford.

Related Article: All on 4 Frequently Asked Questions